Journalists help in the fight against barbarity

The reporters' deaths highlight how important journalists are in the fight against dictatorial oppression, the left-liberal daily Libération writes: "It is clear from the deaths of Marie Colvin and Rémi Ochlik that in his effort to cling on to power, Bashar al-Assad is deliberately targeting the witnesses of his barbarity. The Syrian dictator's artillerymen fired on the improvised 'press centre' that served to report on the horrific massive bombardments of the civilian population. ... The death of these reporters reminds critics of the media, as well as those who believe that everything is available on the web, that there are men and women who are ready to risk their lives to keep people informed. Without their reports Assad - like so many others before him - could have continued killing and torturing his people with impunity. Their stories and their images may seem like weak barricades against the flood of barbarity. But this makes them all the more important."

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Crises / War, » Online media, » Media, » France, » Middle East, » Syria
All available articles from » François Sergent
Who's saying what » Arabs fight for freedom

» To the complete press review of Thursday, February 23, 2012