Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists – November 2
Oftentimes, we underestimate the amount of bravery it takes to write the truth. A quiet but undeniably brave decision. Just the simple act of holding a pen or a camera in a world that punishes honesty is in itself an act of defiance.
Even with all the obstacles and in some instances threats (particularly across Africa) journalists continue to make those bold decisions, while knowing very well that the cost of a single story could be their freedom or at the very worst – their life.
Today being November 2, the world observes the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. This day calls attention to those whose voices were silenced before their stories could reach us. Those who lost their lives while in the line of duty. It is for all those journalists and reporters that were threatened and quit their roles without explanation. Those who had to stop doing that which they were genuinely passionate about because of the fear of the unknown.
It is a reminder that behind every headline are human beings who take enormous risks to ensure that truth is not buried beneath propaganda or fear. And it’s not just the reporters we see Infront of the camera. We have those doing the magic behind the scenes; editors, photographers, fixers, sound operators – the list is endless.
According to UNESCO, more than a thousand journalists have been killed in the past decade alone. Sadly, in nearly nine out of ten cases, the killers go unpunished. This silence and by extension lack of justice does more than rob families of their loved ones. It is a betrayal that erodes trust and feeds the ever growing monster that is corruption. But above all, it warns every journalist still working that their safety is negotiable.
It is no secret that Africa has always struggled for press freedom. The examples have been many to cite along the years. For example, one time Kenya’s former first lady allegedly stormed into a leading media firm and slapped a journalist then confiscated the company’s equipment. No step was ever taken. As I write this, CNN reporter Larry Madowo answered curious X users asking why he was not in Tanzania reporting on the massive protests going on there and also the just concluded highly controversial elections. The answer he gave was heartbreaking, especially when you realize that this still happens in 2025.
Larry Talking about why there are no journalists covering what is happening in Tanzania, both Local and international
It started way back with colonial censorship. After African countries gained independence, they still had to deal with post-independence crackdowns. And so for as far back as we can remember, many governments have viewed independent journalism as a threat rather than a partner in nation-building. And in a continent that is ripe with corruption, reporters investigating land grabs, election fraud or police violence, journalists often face intimidation or worse – disappearance. The simple act of asking questions can easily become a crime.
Yet still, they persist.
Every single time journalists continue to show up with notebooks in hand, recorders tucked under shirts and cameras ready. They document protests when the streets are burning. They visit prisons and hospitals. They go even further to visit refugee camps so that they can tell the stories of those the world has forgotten. They keep writing, even when their editors order them to stop.
As furiously fast as the threats keep coming, so does their publishing.
While it does matter, ending impunity is not just about demanding justice for the fallen. It is also about insisting that truth itself has value and that societies built on lies cannot heal. It is reminding everyone that governments that silence the press can and will silence their people too. For readers, this is your call to care. Click, read and share. Speak up when journalists are targeted. Speak your truth, even when your voice trembles and tears threaten to spill.
Remember, every article we consume was made possible by someone brave enough to investigate what others wanted hidden. And so on this day, we remember not only the journalists who were killed, but also those who live under constant threat. We remember all the reporters and journalists who continue to write, film and photograph because they believe that their efforts, no matter how small, can make a change. And that someone somewhere deserves to know.
On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we honor those who risk everything to tell the truth and remind ourselves that the fight for freedom of expression belongs to all of us.
