JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 16, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK - Authorities in the Dominican Republic should establish a motive in the murder of radio journalists Luis Manuel Medina and Leónidas Martínez and prosecute all those responsible, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
The two radio journalists were shot and killed during a Facebook Live broadcast at the FM 103.5 radio station located in the southeastern city of San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic, according to press reports.
"Dominican law enforcement must act swiftly to bring the killers of journalists Luis Manuel Medina and Leónidas Martínez to justice," said Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior program coordinator for the Americas. "The video appearing to show the journalists' final moments is a chilling reminder of the dangers that the press can face while reporting the news."
Medina, a presenter for the news program Milenio Caliente, was killed in the recording booth while filming a broadcast on Facebook Live. Before the video abruptly ends, gunshots can be heard along with a voice shouting, "Shots, shots, shots." A gunman also shot and killed Martínez, a director and producer at the radio station, and a secretary at the station, Dayana García, is in serious condition after being shot in the stomach, according to a United Press International report.
Medina reported on politics and social issues and had recently denounced pollution in Laguna Mallén, a protected lake in San Pedro de Macorís, according to a report in The Guardian. He was also the official announcer for the Estrellas Orientales baseball team, the report said.
A spokesperson for the police office in San Pedro de Macorís told CPJ that police could not release details about the investigation or a possible motive. At least 12 individuals have been interviewed, according to the spokesperson. Three men have been arrested in relation to the case but have not yet been charged, according to the BBC.
At least three journalists have been killed in direct retaliation for their work in the Dominican Republic since CPJ began recording statistics in 1992, according to CPJ research. - Committee to Protect Journalists/Image: http://www.irishtimes.com
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.