(Vatican Radio) Freedom of information is a cornerstone of any democracy. Yet almost
half of the world’s population is still denied it. And when governments or individuals
try to stamp out that freedom by force, very often journalists are the ones caught
in the line of fire. In the past week alone, two Somali journalists lost their lives,
a Brazilian journalist was shot dead in a studio and another in Bolivia was badly
burned after being set on fire whilst on the air. Reporters without Frontiers
campaigns is an organisation that campaigns to defend freedom of information and fight
censorship worldwide. Benoit Hervieu heads the organisation's Latin American Desk
and spoke to Vatican Radio's Susy Hodges. Listen to the extended interview with
Benoit Hervieu: Hervieu says in
many countries when journalists report on issues like "organised crime or corruption,"
they run a real risk of being attacked. He goes on to point out that sometimes the
muzzling of the press can be self imposed out of fear. "You have self-censorship
in many countries where the press is traditionally weak," he says. Hervieu says
Brazil is one country where he believes the dangers faced by journalists "are worsening."
He notes that many Brazilian journalists report on police action to stamp out "drug
trafficking in the favelas" but says "if you talk about that, you are exposed to threats
from the drug traffickers and also from the authorities." But the most dangerous
country by far for journalists is Somalia says Hervieu where 18 journalists have been
killed this year alone. He explains that the reason for this high number can be
directly attributed to the lack of a central government and the climate of impunity
that reigns in Somalia.