A Revealing Lens into the World of Truth-Seeking Journalism.
Commentary
With the recent advent of rampant cancel culture and the frenzied banning of conservatives (all across social media and media in general), and, for that matter, anyone who doesn’t bow to the globalist narrative, people are seeking out truth in journalism in increasing numbers.
But for those honest and forthright intrepid journalists who are out in the world and who are interested in exposing hidden or otherwise lesser-known stories to the masses, matters can be challenging at best, and downright deadly in the worst of cases (see my review of “Jim: the James Foley Story” as an example).
What’s interesting is that there were warning signs that accurately showcased (and warned about) the extreme dangers posed to truth-seeking journalists years ago—but they largely went unheeded. Such is the case with a fascinating documentary that flew under the radar back in 2013, titled “Killing the Messenger: The Deadly Cost of News.” This is a film that is more relevant than ever.
If investigative journalists want to get to the heart of some of the murkier stories out there, they sometimes have to take enormous risks. That means risking kidnapping, torture, and death. Kidnapping is especially popular since it allows the kidnappers to fetch hefty ransoms for the safe return of the journalists they hold hostage.
As the film describes the situation, murder is the number one work-related cause of death among journalists—especially as censorship rises each and every year. Death isn’t the only concern, however. Hundreds of journalists have been physically assaulted, received death threats, and/or snatched off the streets and imprisoned, in order to extort money from concerned parties.
Places with shifting socio-political landscapes or extreme authoritarian governments, such as Russia, Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, China, North Korea, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan—and even first-world countries such as Canada, and ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand), are particularly dangerous environments from which to report. In some cases, bravery and curiosity can work against those seeking to uncover shady enterprises and dastardly deeds.
As investigative journalist Kimberly Dozier (who was critically wounded by a car bomb in Iraq) says, “if you want to get to some of these stories, you have to take the risks of the people who are living through the same thing. And sometimes that means risking torture, risking kidnapping