Journalists Under Threat
Around the world every day there are journalists who inspire us. Some put their lives at risk to report the truth; others stand out for their talent, specialism, drive, and expertise. All are worthy of our admiration.
This new series from Women in Journalism merges our Journalists Under Threat series with one that captures women of all ages and talents who are exceptional in their field and whose journalism we champion and celebrate.
Written by young journalists who are just starting out and edited by committee members Barbara Rowlands and Sonya Thomas, these profiles shine a spotlight on fearless, innovative women who are changing lives through their passion and commitment.
Jineth Bedoya Lima
In 2000, Jineth Bedoya Lima, 49, was a 26-year-old reporter. She had been covering a story on weapons, human trafficking, and corruption at the infamous La Modelo prison in Colombia for three years, during which the threats against her and her mother intensified. When she feared for her safety, the Colombian state told her she was not entitled to protection.
“Jineth was one of the first journalists investigating how the armed conflict had moved into the prison system,” Claudia Duque, a Colombian investigative journalist, International Women Media Foundation (IWMF) Courage in Journalism award recipient, and Bedoya’s friend, says. “Jineth uncovered many stories about massacres inside prisons. That made her a target for threats and, later, her attack.”