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The threats to press freedom and journalism safety are growing increasingly grave. I’ve been working at the intersection of journalism, media safety and press freedom for more than two decades and I’ve never known the risks as concerning or comprehensive.

A storyteller at heart, I cut my teeth as a journalist and later moved into work that spanned press freedom, holistic journalism safety and mental health.

At Newsrewired last November, listening to Dan Mclaughlin, Rachel Sibley and Jacob Granger talk about the power of podcasts, I had a lightbulb moment.

On the eve of this World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2026), I have realised the decision I made on that day. I am launching Shooting the Messenger: the Case for Press Freedom, having decided to turn my passion and professional experience into a podcast. I want to help people everywhere understand that when journalists are attacked, we risk hurting not just the messenger and the message, but society more broadly.

I thought long and hard about this name. I’m very conscious of its ethical connotations, but I felt I needed a brave, bold and powerful title because too many people think it’s okay to attack journalists. We cannot shy away from difficult conversations. I needed a name as fearless as the guests on my show. 

Around the world, democracy is dying in the darkness,........

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