'In search of protection, justice and the truth: journalists' responses to impunity in Mexico and Honduras'

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The award of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to two journalists from Russia and the Philippines for their free, independent and fact-based reporting in the face of increasing repression and attacks (NYT, 2021) is the latest sign of international recognition of anti-press violence and the importance of journalists to society and, therefore, of protecting them. These issues have received significant attention at UN and regional level since the late 1990s, in particular since the 2012 UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (UNPA) (UN, 2012). Yet in many countries the significance of journalists, their social role and their security are frequently disregarded and even contested, while attacks and threats against journalists continue to grow, largely unchecked. In many countries violence does not affect all journalists equally but mainly targets independent and investigative reporters covering sensitive topics such as human rights violations, corruption and organised crime groups (Waisbord, 2002). Such journalists may also be considered HRDs, even if they do not see themselves as such. Most attacks are poorly investigated, if at all, and go unpunished (UNESCO, 2020; Heyns and Srinivasan, 2013, IACHR, 2013). In such contexts of impunity - an absence of legal consequences for the perpetrators - how do journalists keep themselves safe and seek justice for attacks as they struggle to continue their work?My PhD dissertation offers a qualitative, comparative, bottom-up study of how journalists respond to impunity for violence against journalists in two Latin American countries where this problem - like impunity for human rights violations in general - is particularly widespread, Mexico and Honduras. It was inspired by my research and advocacy in support of journalists at risk in Latin America and Africa for the (I)NGO PEN International (2007-2016). Drawing on 67 in-depth interviews with journalists and protection actors (organisations that support journalists at risk) in these countries, I show that while journalists frequently seek justice and protection from the state at domestic and international level, often with the assistance of (I)NGOs, this is only part of the story. The other part, often neglected, is self-protection. While a state-oriented approach to seeking justice and protection has some benefits and is necessary for accountability purposes, its multiple limitations and risks are a key factor in journalists in Mexico and Honduras turning to activist and professional forms of self-protection. I argue that self-protection is widespread and central to journalists' security and, despite its own risks, needs to be taken more into account by scholars, protection actors and policymakers.The activities of the fellowship are mainly centred around sharing the findings and recommendations of my PhD dissertation. I will travel to Mexico and Honduras to carry out 15-20 follow-up interviews to update my data in the light of changes in government and Covid-19-related restrictions and, if necessary, amend my findings. I will then adapt the dissertation as the first ever book-length study on the security and protection of journalist-HRDs for a highly regarded academic publisher; I will also produce one article on the benefits and risks of journalists undertaking activism for their own cause for a top specialist academic journal, and another article for a more general audience. Throughout the year, I will give presentations both at relevant major international academic conferences and to non-academic audiences such as IGOs, policymakers, (I)NGOs, journalists and donors. I will collaborate with CFOM and the UNESCO Chair to help expand their networks/partnerships and potentially develop a collaborative funding proposal for future research. I will also undertake training to further develop my expertise and impact as a researcher.