Killing of journalists, mass media and the culture of impunity

Abstract

(EXTRACT) Whatever else it may be, media killings are considered a political phenomenon of our time: there should be democracy and freedom, but those who deliver news and opinion are killed. Due to the long history of media killings, the method of killing has been conventionalized: open, brutal, hurried, and sure. The method of killing media people follows that of the more widespread political killings: the killer is on a motorcycle, often with face uncovered, he attacks at any time, and often in the presence of the family as a reminder of retribution should they choose to file charges. The most horrible similarity: in many instances, the community knows the killers and the mastermind, but is afraid to testify, and the police does little to apprehend the killers.