When a journalist is killed for doing their job and no one is held accountable, it’s not just a statistic. It’s a chilling message that silences other voices, shatters families, and leaves the public in the dark.
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we remember these five individuals.
Their stories show just how elusive justice can be, and why the fight to find it is so urgent.
1. Shireen Abu Akleh: The Trusted Voice
For millions across the Middle East, Shireen Abu Akleh was more than a journalist; she was a trusted voice and a trailblazer for women in media.
The Palestinian-American correspondent’s life was cut short by a bullet while she was reporting in the West Bank, her press vest clearly visible.
Her high-profile, targeted killing—despite her American citizenship—laid bare a deeply entrenched system of impunity, showing that even the most visible journalists are not safe when accountability fails.
2. Javier Valdez Cárdenas: The Crime Reporter Who Refused to Look Away
In one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the press, Javier Valdez Cárdenas dedicated his life to investigating the powerful drug cartels and corruption tearing Mexico apart.
He wrote under constant threat, knowing the risks. His murder was a brutal message to every reporter in Mexico.
While some of the direct perpetrators were convicted, the alleged mastermind has never stood trial.
For Javier’s family and colleagues, this is only a partial victory in a system where most such murders go entirely unpunished.
3. Ján Kuciak: Uncovering Corruption at a High Cost
Slovakian journalist Ján Kuciak was digging into high-level corruption and tax fraud when he and his fiancée were shot dead in their home.
The prime suspect was a powerful businessman Kuciak had reported on, a man who had previously threatened him. That suspect was tried for the murder and found not guilty—twice.
He is in prison for other crimes, but for Kuciak’s family, the fight for justice for his assassination remains unresolved, a stark reminder that threats against journalists are often ignored until it is too late.
4. Gerry Ortega: A Slow-Motion Pursuit of Justice
In the Philippines, radio host Gerry Ortega used his popular show to speak out against corruption and environmental destruction.
His outspoken criticism cost him his life. For 14 years, the former provincial governor accused of ordering his murder evaded capture.
While the trial is now underway, it moves at a glacial pace, demonstrating how the powerful can delay justice for years, leaving families in a painful limbo and allowing masterminds to believe they are above the law.
5. Samuel Wazizi: The Death the Government Tried to Hide
Cameroonian journalist Samuel Wazizi was a beloved news anchor who reported on sensitive allegations against the government.
For this, he was arrested. He then vanished, dying in military custody. The authorities hid his death for months and obfuscated the circumstances.
Samuel’s case is a terrifying example of the extreme risks journalists face not just from criminals, but from the very states that are supposed to protect them, and the lengths to which some will go to cover up their crimes.
These five lives were taken for one reason: they sought to tell the truth.
When their killers walk free, it emboldens others to do the same.
Remembering their stories is the first step in demanding the justice that will make journalism safer for everyone.
