NCJ Number
47329
Journal
MORE Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 12-21
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS DURING THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IN THE 15 MONTHS PRIOR TO APRIL 1978, AT LEAST 24 JOURNALISTS AROUND THE WORLD WERE MURDERED, AND POLICE OR POLITICAL EXTREMISTS TORTURED OR INJURED 37 OTHERS. JOURNALISTS ENJOY A MEASURE OF PROTECTION FROM DRACONIAN LEGAL REPRESSION BECAUSE OFFICIAL AGENTS OF THE STATE MUST PAY TRIBUTE, HOWEVER MODESTLY, TO THE MORALS AND MYTHS OF PRESS FREEDOM; CENSORSHIP IS STILL A PEJORATIVE CONCEPT THE WORLD OVER. THEREFORE, GOVERNMENTS WHICH WOULD DISPENSE WITH A TROUBLESOME PRESS MUST UNOFFICIALLY STEP OUTSIDE THEIR OWN LAWS OR ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO IN THEIR BEHALF. GOVERNMENTS ALWAYS TRY TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR POWER IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MONOPOLIZE TERROR, AND THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES ARE THOSE IN THE PERIOD BEFORE THE STATE'S MONOPOLY IS COMPLETE OR AT THE POINT WHEN IT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. WHEN THE MONOPOLY IS COMPLETE, PERVASIVE CENSORSHIP AND AN ELABORATE MECHANISM UNDER EXISTING LAWS FOR ELIMINATING EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS OPPOSITION PRECLUDE THE NECESSITY OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS. REPORTERS ARE OFTEN ESPECIALLY ENDANGERED IN THOSE COUNTRIES WITH TRADITIONS THAT CONFER PROMINENCE AND STARDOM ON NEWSPEOPLE, MAKING THEM BOTH SYMBOLS AND SPOKESMEN FOR POLITICAL POINTS OF VIEW. IN THOSE COUNTRIES JOUNALISTS MUST ACCEPT THEIR POLITICAL IMPORTANCE, ORGANIZE IF THEY CAN FOR DEFENSE WHERE IT IS NECESSARY, AND EXPLORE TOGETHER THE MORALITY AND ETHICS OF PARTICIPATION IN INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE. IN ADDITION, OUTRAGE MUST BE EXPRESSED OVER THE WORLDWIDE ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS. A LIST OF JOURNALISTS, PUBLISHERS, AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETS OF EXTRALEGAL POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS INCLUDED; IT DESIGNATES THE NATURE, DATES, AND LOCATIONS OF THE VIOLENT ATTACKS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED.