On Friday March 8th, Rodrigo Neto was killed by two gunman while walking to his car. Mr. Neto hosted a radio show and wrote a column for a Brazilian paper, Ipatinga daily ale do Aco.
As reported in The Rio Times "The crime against journalist .Rodrigo Neto had the characteristic of an execution. It was an attack on life, human rights and freedom of expression." RodrigoNeto was a reporter of crime and local corruption.
According to Carlos Muller, a spokesman for the NAN (National Assoication of Newspapers) the majority of recent cases in Brazil are related to local issues usually involving organized crime. Sometime in connection with corrupt police and local politicians.
Neto was the fourth journalist killed so far this year. But it appears that this killing spree has not been investigated. The murders that have been investigated did not end in convictions either. This has created a culture of impunity that means corrupt individuals see little risk in paying a hired gunman to silence a reporter asking inconvenient questions. What all these cases have in common is a lack of investigation.
In a report from RJI, Brazil was listed as one of the most dangerous place's to work. While many reporters are losing their lives while investigating corruption. Is the corruption being with local police? The same police who, once the reporter has been shot , are responsible for investigating the murder.
How could anyone expect a fair investigation by someone you may have been reporting on for ther corrupt practices? Is their a link between organized crime and the police? Is the media at risk in this conspiracy?