Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides country-based or region-based case studies, many incorporating in-depth interviews and surveys of journalists. Journalism, human rights, and democratic organizations and their supporters remain outraged by such types of inexcusable, ongoing harassment of journalists throughout much of the world. Perpetrators of crimes against journalists are thus emboldened when they realize they can attack their targets without ever facing justice. Personal safety issues aside, global journalists face a multitude of professional work obstacles that seem overwhelming at best in today's rapidly changing world of news, technology, information, ecosystems, and political uncertainties. Journalists are simultaneously striving to integrate their personal and professional beliefs, values, codes of ethics, roles, and missions while confronting an array of challenges to reporting and disseminating fair, accurate, and balanced news and information.