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Letter: The high price of journalism

Journalists pay a high price to expose the truth and often work against the wishes of their rulers and even against the wishes of hardcore militant groups, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

The Jakarta Post
Mon, January 10, 2011

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Letter: The high price of journalism

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ournalists pay a high price to expose the truth and often work against the wishes of their rulers and even against the wishes of hardcore militant groups, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to reports over the last decade, Pakistan, Iraq and Mexico have been the most violent countries for reporters. According to media rights group Reporters Without Borders, 57 journalists lost their lives in 2010 while performing their duties.  

Two French journalists are still in the custody of militants in Afghanistan. Several journalists are also still working under death threats in Columbia and Mexico where a long war is going on between different drug cartels.

According to news reports, the most dangerous country for journalists in 2010 was Pakistan, where 11 journalists were killed.

Most of the journalists were killed while covering the US-led war on terror in Pakistan’s tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan. According to reports, journalists are working on the front lines in Pakistan at high risk to their lives.

Most of them are covering big political gatherings that entail a high risk from suicide attacks.

Journalists are pressurized by militants and security agencies both to present their perspectives in the print and electronic media.

A few days ago the famous journalist Umer Chima was abducted from the heart of Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and then tortured for several days.

After corruption stories and fake degree scandals which involved several key government personalities, the government wants to control the media and journalists with draconian laws.  

The government has also tried to close several TV channels and ban several popular anchors who have tried to expose government corruption. Several militants groups also issued guidelines to the media and have targeted journalists and their organizations.
 
Khawaja Umer Farooq
Jeddah

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