Replication Data for: Killing the Messenger: Political System Openness as a Determinant of Journalist Killing, 1992-2008

What countries are most dangerous for journalists? Both conventional wisdom and extant literature on repression, democra cy, and reporter fatalities suggest that more open political systems should make journalists safer. However, we argue that a more open political context actually makes it more dangerous for journalists because they are freer to pursue stories that put them at risk and are thus more likely to b e killed by actors trying to avoid the spotlight and exposure. Conversely, cl osed autocratic regimes provide fewer opportunities to pursue dangerous lea ds, thereby reducing the chance of being killed. Using novel cross-natio nal data on the number of journalist killings between 1992 and 2008, we fi nd that these arguments are generally supported when controlling for other factors that affect the killing of journalists, such as poor governance and political conflict.