Over 1,100 journalists killed in decade

BRITAIN: More than 1,100 journalists and support staff have been killed carrying out their work in the past decade and the annual toll has jumped since 2003, the year of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, a report said.

The study by the International News Safety Institute (INSI), a coalition of media organisations, press freedom groups and humanitarian campaigners, showed Iraq was the most dangerous place for journalists, followed by Russia and Colombia.

Worldwide, last year was the worst for media workers with 167 killed worldwide, up from 149 in 2005 and 131 in 2004. That compares with 94 in 2003, 70 in 2002 and 103 in 2001.

The total tally since the start of 1996 was 1,101, said the report, “Killing the Messenger”. Nearly half were shot and the vast majority — at least 657 people — were murdered covering news during peacetime in their own country.

In two thirds of cases the killers were not identified and convictions have been obtained in only 27 cases. The report called on governments to end impunity for those who harm journalists by prosecuting those responsible.

It also recommended that institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund should include the number of journalists murdered when assessing aid for countries.

“The figures show that killing a journalist is virtually risk free,” said Richard Sambrook, global news director at the British Broadcasting Corporation, who led the inquiry.

“Ongoing impunity for the killers of journalists, who put themselves in harm’s way to keep world society informed, shames not only the governments who are responsible for their own lack of action but also the democracies that stand aside in silence.”

London, Wednesday, Reuters.