Impunity and unsolved crimes against journalists kill public trust

February 18, 2026

Pablo Arcuri, who leads journalist safety programs at Free Press Unlimited, discusses the evolving threats facing journalists in an interview focused on press protection. He explains that dangers vary by context, ranging from legal harassment through Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in democratic countries to digital surveillance in repressive regimes and physical violence in conflict zones. Arcuri emphasizes that online disinformation campaigns often serve as precursors to real-world violence by delegitimizing journalists and framing them as legitimate targets.

Who is affected

Journalists worldwide, particularly those in high-risk areas, conflict zones, and authoritarian regimes
Women journalists who face gender-based online harassment and sexualized attacks
Journalists in democratic and semi-democratic countries facing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)
News outlets targeted by disinformation campaigns
Victims' families of murdered or attacked journalists
Society as a whole and democratic stability, particularly in regions like the Western Balkans
Media workers working under pressure

What action is being taken

Free Press Unlimited is supporting practical digital safety resources like the Totem Project, which offers free self-paced courses for journalists
FPU is conducting cold case work to reopen investigations of crimes against journalists
Through the Reporters Respond program, FPU is providing emergency financial, legal, and safety support to targeted journalists
FPU and partners are helping journalists analyze and expose how smear campaigns are constructed through their investigation unit
The organization is treating online attacks as a core safety issue integrated with physical protection efforts

Why it matters

Journalist safety is fundamental to societal health and democratic stability because crimes against journalists harm society as a whole, not just individuals. When journalists are attacked without accountability, it creates fear and self-censorship, weakening press freedom and public access to truth. With UNESCO reporting that nearly 90 percent of journalist murders worldwide go unpunished, this has become one of the safest crimes to commit. The interconnected nature of modern threats—where online disinformation campaigns serve as precursors to legal harassment and physical violence—means that failing to protect journalists undermines the survival of independent journalism itself. In regions experiencing prolonged impunity, such as parts of the Western Balkans, this has resulted in extremely low public trust in judiciary systems, directly threatening democratic institutions.

What's next

Free Press Unlimited will publish findings next year on a cold case in Pakistan that involved both limited forensic capacity and insufficient political pressure. Journalists facing immediate danger can apply for emergency support through FPU's Reporters Respond program via their website or email at reportersrespond@freepressunlimited.org.

Read full article from source: Global Voices