Brazil / Americas

New York, February 25, 2013–A local radio reporter who often denounced crime on his show was shot dead on Friday in northern Brazil, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder and calls on Brazilian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

CPJ’s Robert Mahoney identifies the 10 countries where press freedom suffered the most in 2012. They include Syria, the world’s deadliest country for the press; Russia, where repressive laws took effect; Brazil, where journalist murders soared; and Ethiopia, where terror laws are used to silence the press. (3:26)

A system to defend free expression is under attack from foes and former allies. By Carlos Lauría

The murders of two bloggers mark a surge in deadly anti-press violence. By John Otis

Brazil’s international profile remained on the rise, but its government consistently failed to show leadership on press freedom issues. Anti-press violence surged with four work-related fatalities; the country’s ranking also worsened on CPJ’s Impunity Index, which highlights countries where journalists are killed regularly and the authorities fail to solve the crimes. Along with India and…

  Killed in 2012: A Worldwide Roundup The number of journalists killed in the line of duty rose sharply in 2012, as the war in Syria, a record number of shootings in Somalia, continued violence in Pakistan, and a worrying increase in Brazilian murders contributed to a 49 percent increase in deaths from the previous…

Who is allowed to talk? What are they allowed to say? Award winners seek the answers. By Kristin Jones

No amount of security training can make up for a lack of professional solidarity. By Frank Smyth

From conflict-ridden Syria to aspiring world leader Brazil, 10 nations on a downslope. By Karen Phillips