Last year was a bad year for journalists. According to the “Committee to Protect Journalist” – which just released its annual report on violence against journalists – at least 46 journalists were killed in 2011 – and photographers and camera operators were killed at rates double the historic average. In addition – the number of journalists imprisoned around the world reached a 15-year high in 2011. The United States threw its share of journalists in jail as part of its crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street Movement last year.
The repression of journalism right now is no coincidence. As the backlash against corporate power and globalization moves ahead – the powers-that-be are desperately trying to control the flow of information – which means squashing independent journalists – and propping up corporate media info-tainment.