The work of journalists is becoming more dangerous, with record numbers detained for their coverage, and dozens killed each year.

As of December, more than 290 journalists were in prison for their work and at least 24 had been killed, according to the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The group's data reflect an increasingly dangerous environment for the media.

As executive director of CPJ, Joel Simon has seen how journalists have changed the world while becoming a target for repressive forces.

In an interview with VOA last month, Simon talked about the increased risks to global media.

"The mere act of doing journalism — especially accountability journalism, journalism that threatens people in power — is inherently dangerous," he said.

After nearly 25 years at CPJ — 15 as executive director — Simon will leave his position on December 31, but says he remains committed to defending press freedom.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Question: How has press freedom around the world changed during your tenure as CPJ's executive director?

Joel Simon: When I started at CPJ in 1997, it was a period of profound optimism, about democracy, about human rights, about press freedom. After all, journalists played a critical role in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Reporting in Latin America helped lead to the collapse of military governments in that region.

There was a sense that independent journalism could really change the world, and I think that maybe it did. But then there's been this terrific backlash.

Repressive governments, autocratic governments all over the world understand that, particularly because of technology. And in the information age, those who control the narrative control power.

Journalists help shape public perception. They help shape narratives. So, they're in conflict with governments around the world — both repressive governments that use violence and legal action, but also in democracies.

More and more, people are living under governments that are partly free and are living in an environment in which press freedom has deteriorated, in which their ability to access information and independent media and hold governments accountable is more limited.

That's the moment we find ourselves in now. And I do think that the pendulum will swing someday. It always does. But we have to recognize this moment in history-VOA

https://www.crimeandmoreworld.com/cpj-head-with-press-freedom-us-leadership-really-matters/

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