Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The extraordinary courage of journalists and media workers reporting from conflict areas in Ukraine and other parts of the world reminds us once again how crucial their work is in providing timely, trusted and fact-based information to the public. This debate should serve as an opportunity to celebrate their vital contribution and draw attention to the increasing pressures, threats and attacks they face while also calling for the protection of all journalists by ensuring they are supported to ensure freedom, independence and pluralism of the media generally. The death of nine journalists and media workers in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion underscores for us all the level of danger to which those covering conflict are exposed. To maintain freedom of the press, which is essential for democracy, journalists must be able to complete their jobs safely. Yet, media workers are increasingly facing danger and even death particularly in conflict zones and in some countries around the world.

In 2021, the European Federation of Journalists reported six assassinations of journalists in Europe. Journalists have also been violently attacked when covering demonstrations or investigating allegations of corruption, organised crime and environmental malpractice. In 2021, according to the International Press Institute, 45 journalists were killed while undertaking their jobs throughout the world. So far this year that figure sits at the unfortunate figure of 28 journalists killed in the line of duty. The most important thing that can be done in cases targeting media in violent acts is accountability, according to the International Press Institute. In fact the institute data shows that in at least 90% of cases in which journalists are murdered those responsible are not held to account. This creates a cycle of impunity where those responsible feel that they can act without consequences and see it as an open invitation to attack journalists. This points to an urgent need to ensure a meaningful judicial response. Otherwise the number of killings will continue to grow. Additionally journalists are also routinely targeted with online threats and hate speech. Female journalists in particular face vicious, sexualised and malicious online attacks.

Independent journalism is imperilled by increasing crackdowns on press freedom, targeted surveillance and judicial harassment of journalists, high levels of impunity for crimes against journalists, editorial capture by political or business interests and mounting financial difficulties for many news outlets.

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