PressEthic

Criticism of the government in this country is not rare. Actors, entertainers, and journalists do it all the time. This is fine, no, this is great. But what always perplexes me is how these outspoken celebrities are often applauded for their bravery. I'm thinking of George Clooney, Tim Robbins, Michael Moore, Seymour Hersh, etc. I don't get it. Where exactly is their bravery exhibited? When they express their views, they are paid handsomely and adored by audiences around the world. What are they risking? The answer is absolutely nothing.

We don't live in a totalitarian state. Some journalists do. When they speak out, applause for bravery is deserved.

Anna Politkovskaya, an outspoken Russian journalist, was executed in her apartment building on Saturday. Accounts of the murder consistently describe it as "execution style", meaning that there was was no struggle or warning, it was entirely premeditated.

Politkovskaya was well known for criticism of the Kremlin and of Russian military action in Chechnya.

21 outspoken journalists have been killed in Russia since Putin became president in 2000. None of these murders have been solved.

Russian president Vladmir Putin has been mostly silent about the murder, but has promised an "objective inquiry".

Wary of Putin's promises, Reporters Without Borders has called for an independent inquiry into the murder.

Politkovskaya's murder demonstrates an ongoing trend in Russia - the suffocation of press freedoms. Several newspapers and broadcasting stations have been either closed or acquired by the government and the brutal intimidation of individual journalists continues. This situation has implications for the direction of that country and ultimately its relationship with the international community. But I only want to offer perspective, and to suggest that words like bravery are applied to the media a bit too freely in this country.