Journalists Killed on the Job: A Global Tragedy

Strategic Insights -

At least 70 journalists lost their lives while on assignment around the world this year, with a significant majority of the deaths occurring in the Middle East, where the civil war in Syria and sectarian attacks in Iraq have taken a devastating toll. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 29 journalists died in Syria, including citizen journalists, broadcasters, and foreign correspondents, while 10 were killed in Iraq. The international community is being urged to take action to protect reporters and prosecute those responsible for the killings.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 70 journalists were killed on the job globally this year, with 29 deaths occurring in Syria and 10 in Iraq.
  • The majority of journalists killed in Syria were citizen journalists, broadcasters, and foreign correspondents.
  • Six journalists died in Egypt, with half of those killed while reporting on a crackdown by security forces on August 14.
  • The CPJ has been tracking deaths among reporters and broadcasters since 1992, with most killings involving journalists covering news in their home countries.
  • Journalists in Brazil, Colombia, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Russia were also murdered after reporting on sensitive topics.
  • A pair of Radio France Internationale journalists were abducted and killed after meeting with a leader of ethnic Tuareg separatists in Mali.
  • Militants in Iraq killed five members of the news staff of Salaheddin TV in a suicide attack this month in Tikrit.
  • To date, at least 63 journalists have been killed covering the conflict in Syria, with 60 abducted and 30 still missing.

Statistics:

  • Total journalists killed on the job globally this year: 70
  • Deaths in Syria: 29
  • Deaths in Iraq: 10
  • Deaths in Egypt: 6
  • Deaths in other countries (Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia): 7
  • Journalists killed while reporting on sensitive topics: 7
  • Radio France Internationale journalists abducted and killed in Mali: 2
  • Members of the news staff of Salaheddin TV killed in Iraq: 5
  • Total journalists killed covering the conflict in Syria: 63
  • Journalists abducted in Syria this year: 60
  • Journalists still missing in Syria: 30

Sources:

  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • CPJ, as quoted in the Sapa-AP news report.