Journalists Killed in 2013: A Graveyard of Media Freedom
At least 70 journalists lost their lives in 2013 while covering conflicts, reporting on sensitive topics, and documenting combat in their home cities. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) documented these deaths, highlighting the dire situation for journalists working in the Middle East and other parts of the world. The CPJ's deputy director, Robert Mahoney, emphasized the need for governments and armed groups to respect the civilian status of reporters and to prosecute those responsible for the killings.
Key Takeaways:
- In 2013, 70 journalists were killed while on the job, with 29 dying in Syria and 10 in Iraq, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
- Six journalists were killed in Egypt, with half of them dying during an Aug. 14 crackdown by Egyptian security forces.
- The majority of killings involved journalists covering news in their home countries, with combat and conflict zones being the most hazardous environments.
- Reporters and commentators covering police misconduct, political corruption, and other sensitive topics were killed in incidents in Brazil, Colombia, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Russia.
- Radio France Internationale journalists were abducted and killed after meeting with a leader of ethnic Tuareg separatists in Kidal, Mali.
- Five members of the news staff of Salaheddin TV were killed in a suicide attack on the channel's offices in Tikrit, Iraq.
Statistics:
- 70 journalists were killed in 2013 while on the job.
- 29 journalists died in Syria in 2013.
- 10 journalists were killed in Iraq in 2013.
- 6 journalists were killed in Egypt in 2013.
- Half of the journalists killed in Egypt died during an Aug. 14 crackdown.
- Most of the killings involved journalists covering news in their home countries.
- At least three Radio France Internationale journalists were killed in Mali.
Sources:
- The Associated Press, David Caruso
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- Robert Mahoney, CPJ deputy director