In places such as Cameroon, Guinea Bissau, Rwanda or post-coup Mali, the media's vigilance extends well beyond issues that matter to the public. Journalists are forced to watch their own backs and data, too.
Prosecutors in Germany accuse the man of crimes against humanity and murder in Gambia. Among the victims of the so-called "Junglers" death squad was a prominent journalist and AFP correspondent.
More than 1,400 journalists have been killed worldwide since 1992. A tribunal in The Hague is set to investigate some of these murders. One highlighted case is the 2011 killing of a Mexican reporter.