49 Journalists Killed in 2011

Portraits of the Fallen from Dana Chivvis on Vimeo.

One may argue that 49 is not such a large number, but that person neglects to consider how many more individuals are hidden behind the 49—-how many more are violated or killed invisibly as their stories are silenced with the death of a journalist.

It takes immense bravery, stamina and sacrifice to enter in and remain a part of the circumstances under which most journalists are killed.¹ In fact, I think most of us wouldn’t be willing or able to do it.  So, considering the ratio of persons killed to persons willing and able to do the job, 49  is quite impressive.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has recently made public the statistics of killed journalists by year and motive. They point out that 9 out of 10 times the murderers go free. In the face of this fact, CPJ has started a Campaign Against Impunity.

What if it was your story the murdered journalist was trying to tell? What if you were trying to tell the story?

It shouldn’t matter much either way. The bell still tolls.

¹ Not to mention the freedom and opportunity to education it requires to become a journalist in the first place–thereby, once again, narrowing the pool of persons willing and able.