"The Greater The Pressure Against Us And Our Values, The Harder We Will Resist"

Imagine trying to be an honest Russian journalist...when the truth is the only weapon you have

As Americans, we are fortunate to live in a country where journalists are almost universally free to investigate and tell the truth. They aren’t faced with risks to their lives, they don’t have to fear for the safety or well-being of their family or loved ones, and they can do their jobs honestly.

Most of us don’t realize this- because we’ve never had to- but American journalism is a bright spot in a very dark world. It’s by no means perfect (a read of rags like Breitbart, Drudge Report, or other Right-wing “news” sites will confirm that), but it’s better than most of the rest of the world.

Journalists in this country are free to tell the truth as they see and can confirm it. They need to be able to source and support their reporting, but (for the most part) they don’t face repercussions for publishing that truth. There are libel laws to protect them, and journalists are protected by the legal system as long as they stay within their lane.

Then there’s Russia, where being a journalist can be a lonely and often dangerous undertaking. It can also be a place where the choice between telling the truth and living to see another day is profound.