RSF identifies three main challenges facing journalists in the Amazon:
-
Direct Violence: Journalists encounter threats, assaults, and legal persecution. Despite some protection measures, the region remains perilous, evidenced by the murder of journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in 2022. Reports document 66 attacks against journalists in the Brazilian Amazon from July 2022 to July 2023, reflecting the dangers across the region.
-
Media Sustainability: Local media faces financial instability, impacting community radio stations, newspapers, and Indigenous media networks. Many rely on sporadic funding, and local journalists often pay out of pocket. This economic precariousness undermines editorial independence and the ability to effectively cover environmental issues.
-
Disinformation: Misinformation campaigns exploit the challenges of local media, often linked to industrial projects aiming to silence dissent. Companies pay for propaganda that presents distorted narratives as news, and mainstream media often overlooks critical issues, leaving communities poorly informed and vulnerable.
These factors collectively endanger journalism in the Amazon, limiting coverage of crucial environmental issues and undermining public accountability.
