Protection of Journalists: Safety and Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean
Austin: University of Texas at Austin, Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas (2022), 100 pp.
ISBN 979-8-218-04840-2
"This e-book takes a tour of these attempts, undertaken from different fronts: newsrooms, collectives of journalists, media associations, governments, or prosecutors. And it is the journalists themselves who tell us about their experiences. This e-book is the product of a series of reports published between December 2021 and July 2022 in the LatAm Journalism Review of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas of the University of Texas at Austin." (Introduction)
PART 1: COVERING PROTESTS. 7
Journalists need more preparation and guarantees to safely cover violent street protests in Latin America, experts say, 8
Journalists report cases of violence suffered during coverage of protests in 2021 in Latin America, 15
Preparation and follow-up to trauma are keys for journalists covering protests in Latin America, 21
PART 2: COVERING VIOLENT CONFLICT, 28
Covering violent conflict: For Latin American journalists, the challenge is in their own communities, 29
Latin American journalists covering violent conflicts in their own countries grapple with uncertainty and ever-changing dynamics, 34
How to stay safe while covering violent conflict in Latin America, 42
PART 3: DEVELOPING PROTECTION MECHANISMS, 46
More Latin American countries consider protection mechanisms for journalists; not every effort succeeds, 47
A wave of attacks against journalists triggers calls for a protection mechanism in Bolivia, 51
A protection plan for journalists in Guatemala that was dead on arrival, 59
Law to enhance protection of Salvadoran journalists stuck in congress while attacks increase, 65
PART 4: INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING CASES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS; 71
Prosecuting crimes against journalists in Latin America: the key to ending impunity, 72
Honduran special prosecutor for protection of journalists is left without mandate to investigate murders, 76
Justice for journalists in Guatemala: Prosecutor archives more complaints than it brings to trial, 86
Mexican special prosecutor for crimes against freedom of expression has a long history, but produces few results, 92
APPENDIX
Resources for staying safe. 10
Journalists need more preparation and guarantees to safely cover violent street protests in Latin America, experts say, 8
Journalists report cases of violence suffered during coverage of protests in 2021 in Latin America, 15
Preparation and follow-up to trauma are keys for journalists covering protests in Latin America, 21
PART 2: COVERING VIOLENT CONFLICT, 28
Covering violent conflict: For Latin American journalists, the challenge is in their own communities, 29
Latin American journalists covering violent conflicts in their own countries grapple with uncertainty and ever-changing dynamics, 34
How to stay safe while covering violent conflict in Latin America, 42
PART 3: DEVELOPING PROTECTION MECHANISMS, 46
More Latin American countries consider protection mechanisms for journalists; not every effort succeeds, 47
A wave of attacks against journalists triggers calls for a protection mechanism in Bolivia, 51
A protection plan for journalists in Guatemala that was dead on arrival, 59
Law to enhance protection of Salvadoran journalists stuck in congress while attacks increase, 65
PART 4: INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING CASES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS; 71
Prosecuting crimes against journalists in Latin America: the key to ending impunity, 72
Honduran special prosecutor for protection of journalists is left without mandate to investigate murders, 76
Justice for journalists in Guatemala: Prosecutor archives more complaints than it brings to trial, 86
Mexican special prosecutor for crimes against freedom of expression has a long history, but produces few results, 92
APPENDIX
Resources for staying safe. 10
