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Anna Politkovskaya: death of a fearless reporter
154/Julie-ann Davies and Barry White
DATELINE: 14/11/06
The murder of Anna Politkovskaya, a correspondent for independent Moscow bi-weekly newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, sent shockwaves across Russia and outraged journalists worldwide. Politkovskaya, a mother of two, was gunned down on 7 October. Her body was found slumped in the elevator of her apartment building.
Perhaps better known outside Russia, she established her reputation by backing up controversial reports about human rights abuses by Russian troops in Chechnya
. She faced death threats from Chechen bandits and Russian or Chechen death squads. During her career she was jailed, subjected to a mock execution and eventually forced into exile.
When she fell seriously ill with food poisoning in 2004 many believed the poisoning was an attempt on her life. However, Politkovskaya consistently downplayed her own bravery. She said: "The duty of doctors is to give health to their patients, the duty of the singer to sing and the duty of the journalist is to write what this journalist sees in reality."
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said her murder reflected the lawlessness threatening to overwhelm Russian journalism. The Federation called on President Putin's government to act swiftly and bring the killers to justice.
IFJ General Secretary Aidan White paid tribute to Politkovskaya's courage. He said: "She was the bravest of the new breed of brave reporters who emerged in the dying days of the Soviet Union. She faced down threats from all sides and was an inspiration to journalists both at home and abroad."
In addition to her work on Novaya Gazeta Politkovskaya also wrote two books and contributed to the Guardian and the Observer. She was working on a major article documenting the use of torture against Chechen civilians when she was killed.
Many of her fellow journalists believe the murder has dealt a severe blow to the remaining shreds of Russian press freedom. During the past year dozens of journalists have been threatened, beaten, attacked and even kidnapped. Some have even been arrested and charged with criminal defamation. Many media outlets that were once critical of Putin are now under the control of state-owned companies.
Russia ranks as the third deadliest country for journalists. Since 1992, forty two journalists have been killed in Russia. Thirteen of these have been killed in contract killings since Putin came to power in 2000.
Last modified: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
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Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
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Previous stories
Safety Of Journalists
Gongadze murder still unsolved
News Death Toll for 2006 Reaches 126
Kash kidnapped by Afghans
Terry Lloyd Killed by US Bullet
The murder of Anna Politkovskaya
Wave of Iraqi media killings sparks new fears
Cover-ups, Lies and Censorship
Worst-ever media disaster: 68 dead in Iran
Gongadze killers still roam free in Ukraine, says IFJ
Killers of Ukrainian journalist are ‘getting away’
Iraq outstrips Vietnam in journalists killed
Call for immediate release of Reuters cameraman held by US army
Media safety 'top priority' in Iraq
Journalists call for free and fair coverage of Zimbabwe poll
Journalism: a deadly business
South of the border
They kill reporters, don't they?
