Journalist killers are escaping justice, research finds

Centre for the Freedom of the Media investigating the safety of journalists around the world Issue of journalistic freedom and the public right to know to be discussed in Question Time style debate in Sheffield Event is part of the Economic and Social Research Council Festival of Social Science - Those who murder journalists are managing to escape justice, according to ongoing research by the University of Sheffield. Professor Jackie Harrison, joint Head of the University's Department of Journalism Studies, says the deliberate targeting of reporters is relatively new and raises questions about press safety and the impunity of those who attack them. "The way in which journalism is seen in different parts of the world has changed," said Professor Harrison, Chair of Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) at the University. "Journalists used to be more protected, but what's happening now is that they are deliberately being targeted - and it's about information control. Journalists themselves are getting killed because people are trying to silence them. You can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time - but what is relatively new is this singling out of journalists. These are attacks on freedom of expression and the public right to know." The issue of journalistic freedom and the public right to know will be discussed in a Question Time-style debate at an event as part of the annual Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science.