Risky Journalism

A reflection on journalists who have vanished or died over the last few decades in pursuit of the truth

Journalism is a field that can get people caught up in some sticky situations. Over the last few decades or so, reporters have gone missing, been held hostage, and have even turned up dead. A few notable cases include Austin Tice, Jodi Huisentruit, and more recently Jamal Khashoggwwi.

Austin Tice is a freelance reporter from Texas. In May 2012, he decided to travel to Syria and pursue freelance conflict reporting.  Tice mysteriously disappear a few months

of struggle outside her apartment and witnesses say they heard screams early in the morning.

In 2001, Huisentruit was declared legal- ly dead. Since then, cases popped up in the area with similarities to the disappearance of the reporter. Tony Jackson, a convicted serial rapist, is still considered a person of interest. Investigators still don’t have enough evidence to prove exactly what happened that morning. “48 Hours” aired a feature on Huisentuit’s disappearance in 2018, hoping it would help investigators obtain more information. Unfortunately, the case still has not been solved.

The Des Moines Register contains links and updated information on the case.

Recently, columnist Jamal Khashoggi from the Washington Post, was missing in Saudi Arabia for awhile. Khashoggi wrote about the Arabic’s need for freedom of press

United States. The U.S. government made it a priority to combat for freedom of press in foregin countries, such as Mexico. In the year, however, the Board of Immigration Appeals, has been denying claims and deporting reporters back to their countries to fend for them- selves.

LA Times journalist, Kate Linthicum wrote an article “Journalists are Fleeing For Their Lives in Mexico.” The feature explores Mexican journalists, who went through a great deal of trouble to uncover the countries dirty secrets.

One of the journalists included in Linthicum’s article was Julio Omar Gomez, who has been living under protection since spring of 2017. As a resident in Baja, California he set out to write about the financial corruption in Mexico. He received numerous death threats and is one of the few lucky ones who later, while on the job. It is speculated that he was kidnapped and taken to a remote location in Syria continues his life outside of Mexican imprisonment, though he might as well be in his cramped living situation.

New York Times reporter, Rick Glad- stone, wrote an update on the search for Tice in 2018. A speaker for the U.S. state department said that they believe that Tice had survived detention in Syria. They are still searching and the FBI is offering a $1 million reward to anyone who has information on the location of Tice.

Jodi Huisentruit was a news anchor from Mason City, Iowa. She mysteriously disappeared on June 27, 1995 after telling a col- league she overslept and was on her way to work. Police found her car and took witness statements from neighbors. There was a sign of struggle outside her apartment and witnesses say they heard screams early in the morning.

In 2001, Huisentruit was declared legally dead. Since then, cases popped up in the area with similarities to the disappearance of the reporter. Tony Jackson, a convicted serial rapist, is still considered a person of interest. Investigators still don’t have enough evidence to prove exactly what happened that morning. “48 Hours” aired a feature on Huisentuit’s disappearance in 2018, hoping it would help investigators obtain more information. Un fortunately, the case still has not been solved.

The Des Moines Register contains links and updated information on the case.

Recently, columnist Jamal Khashoggi from the Washington Post, was missing in Saudi Arabia for awhile. Khashoggi wrote about the Arabic’s need for freedom of press

and expression. Khashoggi traveled over to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, to obtain documents for his marriage. He was recorded exiting the con- sulate and was never seen again after that, declaring him a missing person.

Unfortunately, it was learned that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered. The Washington Post put out an article reporting that Khashoggi had been assassinated by the Saudi Arabia consulate. Information collect- ed suggests that the murder was premeditated the Arabian government had lured Khashoggi to his death.

Some journalists fear their work may put them or others at risk, so they go into hiding. Many journalists have fled to Mexico, after receiving multiple death threats to them and their families. In 2017, many reporters had been found dead in Mexico, making it the most dangerous country in the world.

During the Obama Administration, many international journalists took refuge in the United States. The U.S. government made it a priority to combat for freedom of press in foreign countries, such as Mexico. In the year, however, the Board of Immigration Appeals, has been denying claims and deporting reporters back to their countries to fend for them- selves.

One of the journalists included in Linthicum’s article was Julio Omar Gomez, who has been living under protection since spring of 2017. As a resident in Baja, California he set out to write about the financial corruption in Mexico. He received numerous death threats and is one of the few lucky ones who continues his life outside of Mexican imprisonment, though he might as well be in his cramped living situation.

Many Mexican journalists purposely get themselves locked up in U.S. detention, in an effort to save their lives. Mexican journalist, Martin Mendez, spent over a year in an El Paso detention center, before being sent back to Mexico, reported Lithicum. He was certain that if he would be killed if he was captured by Mexican authorities.

The men and women who pursue journalism keep the public informed. Freedom  of press gives a nation the power to under- stand details, that are necessary to our lives. Reporters disappear and often times turn up dead in the line of duty.

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