Why are journalists increasingly targeted?

Amid the heightening threats, dangers and name-calling, polls show the public's trust in the news media has plummeted.

Reporters are being threatened, harassed, assaulted, imprisoned and killed.

World leaders often target journalists and news outlets they don't agree with, denouncing reporting as "fake news". 

Amid the heightening threats, dangers and name-calling, polls show the public's trust in the news media has plummeted.

What should be done to reverse this dangerous trend? Who should be responsible to protect journalists? What can be done to restore the public's trust in news reporting?

While journalists have been a thorn in the side of authoritarian governments.  With the assent of Donald Trump to the Oval Office he has used the bully pulpit to attack reporters.  Thus giving other repressive governments a green light to oppress a free press.   

Journalism is Not a Crime: The Story of Mahmoud Hussein

A look at the case of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein and his continued detention without trial in Egypt.

In December 2016, Egyptian security forces arrested Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein while on holiday in Cairo.

"We didn't know what was happening or where my father was. At first, we didn't even know if he was dead or alive," recalls his daughter Aya Hussein.

There have been no formal charges against Hussein, an Egyptian national based in Doha, Qatar. He's accused of "incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos". 

Arrested, banned, exiled: Egypt's dissenting voices

With presidential elections due next month, dissent has all but disappeared in Sisi's Egypt. Plus, Hungary's media.

Egypt's dissenting voices 

There have been more arrests in Egypt's current election campaign than manifestos; candidates are dropping like flies.

For example, Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh decided not to run against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, but was arrested anyway upon his return to Cairo after doing an interview in London. It's not just what he said, denouncing Egypt's crackdown on dissent, but where he said it - on Al Jazeera Mubasher, which is network non grata in Egypt.

Istanbul is also on Cairo's radar these days, because of the opposition channels that beam out of there and into Egypt, Mekameleen and Al Sharq. They are probably the reason travel restrictions have been placed on Egyptian journalists trying to go there.

When it comes to the media, the Sisi government has its bases covered; they don't have to worry about how they are being covered.

Journalism is Not a Crime: The Story of Mahmoud Hussein (video)

A look at the case of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein and his continued detention without trial in Egypt.

In December 2016, Egyptian security forces arrested Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein while on holiday in Cairo.

"We didn't know what was happening or where my father was. At first, we didn't even know if he was dead or alive," recalls his daughter Aya Hussein.

There have been no formal charges against Hussein, an Egyptian national based in Doha, Qatar. He's accused of "incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos". 

Why are so many journalists being killed in Mexico?

Prominent journalist Javier Valdez was shot and killed in the of Sinaloa on Monday.

Mexico is not a war zone, and yet it is one of the most dangerous places in the world for reporters.

Prominent journalist Javier Valdez is the latest of several members of the media who have been killed this year alone.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says widespread impunity "allows criminal gangs, corrupt officials, and cartels to silence their critics".

The Mexican government has repeatedly promised to protect journalists, and freedom of speech.

But the shootings and beatings continue. So, what should be done to stop the targeting of journalists?