The truth is being suppressed across the world using a variety of methods,  and not just physical violence. Bribery, extortion and defamation legislation are also used, according to a special report in the 250th issue of Index on Censorship magazine.

As well as kidnapping and murders, financial pressure and defamation legislation is being used, the report reveals. There's an increasing trend to label journalists as "extremists" or "terrorists" so governments can crackdown on reporting they don't like. According to Index's Mapping Media Freedom project, which tracks attacks on journalists in more than 40 countries, 35 incidents were reported where journalists were being linked to "extremism" to restrict reporting, 11 in Russia and others in Belgium, Hungary, France and Spain.

Of course, in some cases they might not really be journalists, they may have gone into it to promote a worldview. Self-selection is a time-honored technique. So if you want to skew the news to be biased toward your world view, you make sure people inclined to only pick those like them are placed in positions of leadership.

Veteran journalists say certain countries are becoming almost impossible to cover. And citizen journalists in Syria say they are under enormous pressure to stop reporting.

"In many countries around the world, journalists have lost their status as observers and now come under direct attack," says Rachael Jolley, editor of the Danger in Truth: Truth in Danger report.