In most countries, heads of state, cabinet ministers, police officers or judges are assassinated. In Russia, journalists most often feel the sniper's bullet. Why that occurs is the first question that comes to mind. It is a good question, but one easily answered. Presidents and powerful people are the targets of terrorists or rebels, while people involved with upholding the law are targets for criminals looking to make a statement.
Journalists are the targets of people seeking to control the truth.
Freedom of the press is a right Americans probably take for granted most often, but is nonetheless one of the most important guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Our nation's founders realized a free press was a powerful check on tyranny, some having witnessed, firsthand, British censorship. Throughout history there are examples of tyrants and monarches controlling the truth to secure power. Nowhere can better examples of censorship be found than in Russia. During the time of the czars, all articles had to be approved by official censors.