64 journalists killed worldwide in 2007

Posted by Cyril Gros on December 18, 2007 at 11:00 AM

The year 2007 registered the highest level of journalist deaths worldwide since 1994, up to 64, according to a report from the Committee to Protect Journalists, which has been tracking journalist deaths since 1981.

64 journalists died while doing their work in 2007, eight more than in 2006. In most of the cases, the journalist himself was targeted and his death is not due to cross-fire or random shots.

Nearly half of those deaths (31) took place in Iraq, which was ranked as the deadliest country for journalists for the fifth consecutive year, reported the New York Times on its website. Somalia is considered as the second deadliest country in the world with 7 journalist deaths out of the that 10 occurred in Africa in 2007.

Apart from deaths directly resulting from armed conflicts, the Committee also monitors direct reprisals for a journalist’s work.

The most lethal year for journalists was 1994, when conflicts in Rwanda, Bosnia and Algeria contributed to the deaths of 66 journalists, reported the New York Times.

Source: European Journalism Centre and New York Times.