‘They told me that they’d hunt me down’: journalists on how they survive working in war zones | Global development
Journalists at Risk: Reporting Under Threat of Violence Worldwide
Updated May 29, 2025
Across the globe, journalists face increasing dangers as they strive to report the truth in conflict zones. From the Democratic Republic of Congo to Mexico, Sudan and Myanmar, reporters risk their lives to document war crimes, cartel violence, and political upheaval.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Stephen*, a journalist in North Kivu, has been targeted by the M23 rebels. After receiving threats, he spent five days confined to his home, fearing for his family’s safety. “They were passing my house, they were so close,” Stephen saeid, recalling the psychological trauma the experience inflicted.
Daniel*, a journalist in Sinaloa, Mexico, has also faced extreme danger while covering the country’s bloody drug war. After reporting on the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán, son of El Chapo, armed men threatened him and confiscated his equipment. ”Knowing I was a journalist, they took photos and videos of me while pointing a gun to my head,” Daniel said.
the incident forced Daniel into hiding for three months, away from his wife and children. He now focuses on covering the victims of the cartels, a shift he made to protect his family.