109 Journalists Killed In 2008: International Federation Of Journalists
How Many On Georgies Watch?BRUSSELS — At least 109 reporters and media workers were killed last year while on assignment and Iraq remains the deadliest place for a journalist to work, the International Federation of Journalists said Wednesday.
In its annual report on press freedom, the group said covering stories in hot spots remained a "perilous" task for journalists, camera operators, producers and photographers. It also urged governments to "step up" efforts to stop the killing of journalists.
"The welcome relief brought about by the decline in the killings of journalists in 2008 has been short-lived," said Aidan White, general secretary of the IFJ. "Ten colleagues died in January (2009) alone."
The IFJ had reported 175 deaths of media workers in 2007, both deliberate and accidental. The group counts all people employed by media organizations who died performing their duties, including not only journalists but also interpreters and drivers.
Another group defending journalists' rights, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, estimated in January that 86 journalists were killed worldwide in 2008.
White said Iraq remains the "deadliest" place to work despite a sharp drop in the murder rate of media staff. Sixteen journalists were killed in Iraq in 2008, compared with 65 in 2007. The decline was due to lessening sectarian violence in Iraq, the group said.
The risks remain high in Iraq, however, and the IFJ says 284 media staff are estimated to have died there since the U.S. -led military operation started in 2003. Most of those killed were Iraqi nationals.
In its annual report on press freedom, the group said covering stories in hot spots remained a "perilous" task for journalists, camera operators, producers and photographers. It also urged governments to "step up" efforts to stop the killing of journalists.
"The welcome relief brought about by the decline in the killings of journalists in 2008 has been short-lived," said Aidan White, general secretary of the IFJ. "Ten colleagues died in January (2009) alone."
The IFJ had reported 175 deaths of media workers in 2007, both deliberate and accidental. The group counts all people employed by media organizations who died performing their duties, including not only journalists but also interpreters and drivers.
Another group defending journalists' rights, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, estimated in January that 86 journalists were killed worldwide in 2008.
White said Iraq remains the "deadliest" place to work despite a sharp drop in the murder rate of media staff. Sixteen journalists were killed in Iraq in 2008, compared with 65 in 2007. The decline was due to lessening sectarian violence in Iraq, the group said.
The risks remain high in Iraq, however, and the IFJ says 284 media staff are estimated to have died there since the U.S. -led military operation started in 2003. Most of those killed were Iraqi nationals.
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