The relationship between the media, the public and politicians has grown increasingly tense. Anti- mainstream media criticism has become more common and many journalists have said that they have faced more hatred than ever before. This debate has focused mostly on journalists in the U.S. and Europe, while neglecting to mention the even worse situation that many journalists in other countries are in.
A report by The Committee to Protect Journalists(CPJ) shines the light reality for those journalists, and the CPJ has concluded that 259 journalists have been imprisoned around the world this year. Because while it is important to discuss the dangerous effects that the Trump anti-media rhetoric and the spreading of fake news can have on the world, it is equally important to recognize the dangerous imprisonment of journalists, which is a direct assault on free press and freedom of speech.
The number of journalist in prison has risen from 199 in 2015 to 257 in 2016, which is an increase of 58 journalists. The CPJ points to Turkey as the main reason for this year’s record-high numbers. Since the failed military coup in July, the Turkish authorities have imprisoned 81 journalists, which makes up almost a third of the total number. As Erdoğan arrests and incarcerates more and more journalists, he is further limiting the free press while increasing his control over what information is available to the public and consequently reinforcing his control over the country.
Another country that is responsible for jailing a large number of journalists is China, with the CPJ reporting that 38 journalists were in Chinese prisons as of December 1. China is one of the countries that is consistently named as one of the biggest imprisoners of journalists. The CPJ also reports that it has gotten worse in the last couple of weeks and that journalists who write about human rights have been the primary targets. Similarly to what Erdoğan is doing in Turkey, the Chinese government is trying to take away the power of their people by limiting and controlling the information that they have access to. Specifically, information that makes the government appear corrupt and bad.
In conclusion, its has become harder and more dangerous for journalists all over the world to do their job. It isn’t only that governments are arresting journalists and making it difficult for them to publish their work, but also that many leaders all over the world are using the media as scapegoats for all that is wrong. Politicians like Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump aren’t throwing journalists in jail, and they probably aren’t going to start doing that. They are, however, using a dangerous rhetoric that is meant to diminish the public’s trust in mainstream media and other government institutions.
All in all, the persecution and imprisonment of journalists all over the world endangers free speech, the free press and is a threat to the freedom and safety of citizens everywhere. A free press that can criticize the government without risking imprisonment is a cornerstone of democracy that needs to be protected.
