BY all appearances, the significant decline in journalist killings around the world this year \u2014 the lowest level it has been in 20 years \u2014 is an encouraging development. However, as highlighted in a recent statement by the International Press Institute, this is little more than a hollow victory when seen in the context of emerging trends in the news media today.<\/p>\n

The IPI has\u00a0expressed concerns\u00a0that the drop in the number of journalists murdered in 2019 \u2014 47 killings, as compared to 79 the year before \u2014 is, in fact, likely the direct result of an increasing use of non-lethal intimidatory tactics to attack independent journalists.<\/p>\n

Arrests and newsroom raids from countries with authoritarian governments such as Egypt and Turkey to ostensibly open democracies such as Australia; populist rhetoric and vilification campaigns against journalists in Brazil, Pakistan and the Philippines; oppressive laws enacted in the name of national security but abused to suppress information in Nigeria and Singapore \u2014 these are just some of ways in which press censorship has evolved.<\/p>\n

The current global press crisis should alarm all those who seek free and open societies, as it is also a manifestation of the deeper danger to democracy.<\/p>\n

The very tools by which polities can be empowered to hold their leaders accountable \u2014 media platforms, justice systems and access to more data than ever before \u2014 have been weaponised by the latter to strong-arm the press into subservience. And this campaign does not stop at targeting journalism alone.<\/p>\n

In Pakistan, one need only witness how such tactics are being extended to harass and undermine NGO workers, rights activists, academics and vulnerable minority groups \u2014 even relatively powerful individuals such as members of the judiciary and the political opposition. Going into 2020, matters are unlikely to improve. If this authoritarian ascent is to be arrested, it will require every ounce of resolve from today\u2019s embattled journalists to lead the way for others \u2014 to read, write and resist.<\/p>\n

Dawn<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"