Journalists face torture and death to report news

Carol Forsloff - Around
the world  journalists
have been killed for protesting injustices in many countries, facing
increased violence that puts them at risk for exposing corruption and
crimes, even as the death of a reporter in Russia is memorialized this month.

  In

Mexico journalists who report on the drug cartels are intimidated and
even killed.  Daily reports include journalists who have been the
victims of drug lords who keep the public in fear by keeping the
information hidden about drug abuses and crime.

In
Eastern Europe crime is rampant in many countries where human
traffickers and other habitual international criminals find haven.
Those who report on crimes and abuse are also intimidated and killed.

This
month marks the anniversary of the death of one of these journalists
who gained international recognition for her work in reporting human
rights abuses. 

Anna
Politkovskaya was killed in Russia in 2006, and no one has been brought
to justice for her death.  The four men charged with her murder were
acquitted in trials that took place during the period November 2008 -
February 2009.  Three alleged accomplices have yet to be investigated.
Those who killed Politkovskaya and those who ordered it have not yet
been brought to justice in Russian courts.

Journalism
is a risky profession in many countries, even as the profession faces

political attack and intimidation and reporters even death.