Threats and Vulnerabilities Faced by Investigative Crime Reporters: An Exploratory Study in Tangail
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65826/JSAI.1.1.2026.63Keywords:
Journalist, Media, Crime report, Threats, VulnerabilitiesAbstract
Bangladesh has been ranked above 100 and around 150 in the Press Freedom Index in recent years, indicating that journalists in Bangladesh face significant challenges in their ability to work independently. This study analyses the threats and vulnerabilities faced by investigative crime reporters in Tangail district of Bangladesh. The study aims to examine the types, causes, and impacts of threats and vulnerabilities faced by investigative crime reporters and identify measures to reduce them. The study analysed data from 39 journalists using quantitative methods. The study found that crime reporters work under intense political pressure, with 94.9% of respondents identifying political threats as a major challenge. 97.4% reported that attempts were made to suppress their freedom of expression. Economic insecurity exacerbates this vulnerability, with 43.6% of journalists earning less than 10,000 taka (below 100 dollars) per month, leaving many vulnerable to external influence. Additional risks include legal harassment, intimidation by criminal groups, and professional marginalization. This study found that while journalists are particularly vulnerable, political and mafia-related threats to their work have a disproportionate impact. These threats not only endanger the safety of journalists but also undermine press freedom and democratic accountability in Bangladesh.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Md. Nur-A-Alam Nuhas, Mahmuda Akter, Amin Mohammed Ismail, Md. Nahid Hasan
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