Media workers death toll continues to rise
The number of journalists and other media workers killed doing their job around the world could reach a record high this year, a new report has shown.
The recent deaths of reporters in the Philippines, the Ivory Coast and Nicaragua has taken the total so far this year to over 100, well above the figure for the past few years.
The number of journalists and other media staff killed in Iraq since the start of the conflict has risen to 62, according to figures compiled by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
General secretary Aidan White said: “2004 is turning out to be one of the most bloody years on record. The crisis of news safety has reached an intolerable level and must be addressed urgently.”
Journalists, already shocked at the rising death toll in Iraq, were now becoming victims in conflicts around the globe, said the IFJ.
“All of these deaths are shocking reminders of the price journalists and media staff pay every day for press freedom and democracy. We must renew our efforts to end this cycle of violence,” said Mr White.
The worst year for deaths was 1994 when 155 media employees were killed covering conflicts.
