12 January 2005
2004 THE DEADLIEST YEAR IN A DECADE FOR JOURNALISTS: RSF
In what is being called the deadliest year for journalists in a decade, at least 53 journalists were killed in 2004, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). The death toll - the highest since 1995 - was largely attributed to the war in Iraq and to revenge killings against journalists who reported on corruption and organised crime.
In Iraq, 19 reporters lost their lives, making the country the most dangerous in the world for journalists. Fifteen media assistants (fixers, drivers, translators, technicians, security staff and others) were also killed.
Journalists who reported on corruption, drug trafficking and criminal gangs were killed in large numbers. In the Philippines, six were murdered, while four lost their lives in Bangladesh. In Mexico, three journalists were killed.
RSF statistics indicate that in almost all categories of press freedom violations, worldwide conditions worsened in 2004 compared to the previous year. At least 907 journalists were arrested, compared to 766 in 2003, while at least 622 media were censored (compared to 501).
Meanwhile, China and Cuba continue to be the leading jailers of journalists, with 26 and 22 journalists respectively behind bars. As of 1 January 2005, 107 journalists and 70 cyber-dissidents were in prison around the world.
To read the full report, visit: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12233
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