NO LOCKDOWN ON VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALIST DURING PANDEMIC

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the pandemic on violence against journalists, starting from the proposition that the pandemic might have influenced the frequency or nature of attacks. While reports indicate a decline in the overall number of violent incidents against journalists over the years, the cases remain alarmingly high. The research aims to map the patterns of violence against journalists using two primary concepts: violence against journalists and press freedom. Employing qualitative content analysis, the study analyzed news articles from several leading outlets, classifying incidents based on perpetrators, types of violence, and their underlying motives. The findings reveal that during the pandemic and the transitional period in 2022, journalists continued to face various forms of violence, ranging from intimidation and suppression of their reporting to outright murder. Perpetrators included civilians, public security officers, military personnel, and government officials. The motives behind these acts primarily fall into two categories: preventing journalists from covering specific events or issues, and retaliating against negative coverage. The study highlights that press freedom should not only be understood as freedom from government intervention but also freedom from threats, intimidation, and all other forms of violence. Additionally, the research underscores the importance of implementing safety training programs to better equip journalists to navigate these challenges.