Worst year for journalists

2006 now has the dubious distinction of being the year when the maximum number of journalists have been killed world-wide. The death toll this year stands at 75, significantly greater than 58 last year.

As information becomes the driving force of this century's economy, the custodians of this immensely prized factor are under seige from various quarters. The have died performing their duty.

This year has seen two major world conflicts uptil now. 26 of these deaths have taken place in Iraq, where journo's are severely pesecuted.

It is alarming and we must take notice of this as a serious threat to freedom of thought and right to information.

2 Indian journalists have died this year.

The World Association of News Press release reads as follows:

Record Number of Journalists Killed in 2006

Seventy-five journalists have been killed so far this year, making 2006 the deadliest year for journalists on record, the World Association ofNewspapers said Thursday.

Twenty-six of the deaths occurred in Iraq, where journalists continue to be targetted and murdered.

The 75 journalists and other media workers killed through September makes 2006 the most deadly year since WAN began keeping records of journalist murders in 1997. Seventy-two journalists were killed in 2004.

"Journalists in Iraq are not only facing the danger that comes with working in a war zone, they are being hunted down and assassinated simply because they are suspected of cooperating with western news agencies, because of their religious or political affiliation, or because their murderers believe that killing journalists will advance their aims," said Timothy Balding, CEO
of the Paris-based WAN.

"Journalism today is more dangerous than ever," he said. "More than 500 journalists have been killed in the past decade, often for simply doing their jobs. These murders are a direct attack not only on individuals, but also on society as a whole. Yet few of the killers are ever brought to justice."

The Philippines, where criminal gangs and corrupt politicians have long been targetting investigative journalists without fear of prosecution, has seen eight journalists murdered so far in 2006.

Journalists have been killed in 19 other countries this year: Afghanistan (1), Angola (2), Bangladesh (1), Brazil (1), China (2), Colombia (4), Democratic Republic of Congo (1), Ecuador (2), Guatemala (1), Guyana (6), India (2), Indonesia (1), Lebanon (2), Mexico (1), Pakistan (3), Russia (1), Somalia (1), Sri Lanka (5), Sudan (1), Turkmenistan (1) and Venezuela (2).

The death toll compares with 58 killed in 2005, 72 killed in 2004, 53 killed
in 2003, 46 killed in 2002, 60 killed in 2001, 53 killed in 2000, 70 killed
in 1999, 28 in 1998, and 26 in 1997.

Details of all the cases can be found on the WAN web site at
http://www.wan-press.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=706 .

(Editors please note: illustrations for this story are available at
http://www.wan-press.org/article6661.html ).

Several press freedom organisations track the number of journalists killed each year. The numbers vary based on the criteria used by different associations. WAN¹s figures include all media workers killed in the line of duty or targeted because of their work. It also includes cases where the motive for the killings is unsure or where investigations have not been
completed.

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry,defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 73 national newspaper associations, newspapers and newspaper executives in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups.