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03/06/07
More than 1,000
journalists and support staff die during deadly decade
By PAISLEY DODDS
Associated Press Writer
LONDON (AP) -- More than 1,000 journalists and their support
staff have died in the past decade, with Iraq and Russia topping
the list as the deadliest countries for the profession, according
to a report released Tuesday.
Most of those killed were men who died in their home countries.
Nearly half were shot. Others were blown up, beaten to death,
stabbed, tortured or decapitated.
The vast majority of those killed were on staff -- 91 percent
versus 9 percent freelance, according to the report from the
Brussels-based International News Safety Institute.
Only one in eight deaths resulted in prosecution.
"This report breaks new ground in capturing how dangerous
the pursuit of news has become," said Tom Curley, president
and CEO of The Associated Press.
"It also confirms how insignificant the efforts have
been to achieve justice for journalists who are harmed or
persecuted as they work to keep the world informed. We are
at a perilous point in journalism: fair and accurate coverage
is more necessary than ever but the risks to those who pursue
it are greater than ever, too."
The report came as detectives investigated the suspicious
death of Ivan Safronov, a military correspondent for Russia's
top business daily Kommersant, who died Friday after falling
out of a window in the stairwell of his Moscow apartment building.
Colleagues suspect foul play.
Russia was singled out in the report as a country with a growing
list of slain journalists, including Anna Politkovskaya, who
was shot and killed outside her apartment last October while
investigating abuses by Russian troops in Chechnya.
"I think we've got a great problem in Russia," said
Rodney Pinder, INSI director, at the release of the 80-page
report. "We've got another journalist who died in mysterious
circumstances a couple of days ago, and if we're suspicious,
who can blame us? Thirteen journalists have died in Russia
since (President Vladimir) Putin came to power, and there
hasn't been a conviction."
The situation is far graver in Iraq, where the media watchdog
group Reporters Without Borders said 13 journalists and media
assistants have been killed so far this year. In the latest
deaths, the bullet-riddled body of Jamal al-Zubaidi was found
Saturday in Baghdad days after he was kidnapped. Newspaper
editor Mohan al-Dahir was fatally shot in the capital on Sunday.
"There is a culture of impunity in many countries,"
said Richard Sambrook, global news director for the British
Broadcasting Corp.
There were 138 deaths in Iraq in the past decade, while there
were 88 in Russia and 72 in Colombia. Other deadly countries
for journalists include the Philippines, Iran, India, Algeria,
Mexico, Pakistan and the former republics of Yugoslavia, the
report said. The U.S. had 21 journalist deaths in the past
10 years, including those caused by accidents on assignment.
The death toll for journalists also has been steadily rising
in recent years.
Last year was the deadliest year for journalists, with 167
deaths compared to 147 in 2005 and 117 in 2004. In 2001, there
were 103 deaths; in 1996, 83 deaths.
The survey was conducted between January 1996 and June 2006
by the International News Safety Institute, a coalition of
media organizations, press freedom groups, unions and humanitarian
campaigners dedicated to the safety of journalists and media
staff. The AP acted in an advisory capacity.
A large percentage of those killed appeared to have died in
targeted attacks. Deaths included journalists and their translators,
fixers, office staff and drivers.
"Increasingly journalists covering international conflicts
are identified with their countries or are seen as 'either
with us or against us,'" the report said.
The report also criticized some news organizations who sent
staff or freelancers into danger zones with inadequate equipment
-- such as bulletproof jackets or communications equipment
-- or training. Many journalists today are required to attend
hostile environment training courses.
"Employers have a duty of care towards those they ask
to work in hostile environments which requires a greater awareness
of the risks," the report said.
The report called on governments to prosecute journalists'
attackers, for development groups like the International Monetary
Fund and the World Bank to consider countries' records on
journalist attacks when assessing aid allotments, and for
governments to abide by a U.N. resolution that condemns attacks
on journalists and their support staff.
It also called on militaries to recognize the right of news
media to report during battle.
Pinder said getting governments and militaries to commit to
protecting journalists has been an uphill battle.
"We have an inkling of an opening with the Pentagon but
with others we have a long way to go," he said.
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On the Net:
International News Safety Institute: http://www.newssafety.com
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