Reporters Without Borders: 62 journalists killed in 2008

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Two foreign journalists injured in Pakistan firing as kidnapped Canadian journalist still untraced

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By Miriam Mannak

Although the number of fatalities among reporters, photographers, and other people working in the field of journalism in 2008 has dropped to 62 from 106 in 2007, in many countries a job in the media remains risky business.

However, international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders presses that a drop in fatalities should not be regarded as a reason for optimism over media freedom. In total 673 journalists were arrested, 929 were physically attacked or threatened, 29 were kidnapped and 353 media outlets were censored.

Over the past twelve months, Many journalists have abandoned their profession due to increased censorship and media targeted violence.

"The figures may be lower than last year's but this should not mask the fact that intimidation and censorship have become more widespread, including in the West," the organisation said in a press statement. "The quantitative improvement in certain indicators is often due to journalists becoming disheartened and turning to a less dangerous trade or going into exile."

Reporters Without Borders said that violations of press freedom is increasingly focusing on the Internet. In 2008, someone was for the first time killed while acting as a “citizen journalist.” The individual was a Chinese businessman who was beaten to death by the police while filming a clash with demonstrators in Tianmen in January 2008.

All in all, the three most deadly countries for journalists in 2008 were Iraq, with fifteen deaths. In Pakistan, seven journalists were murdered in connection with their work, and in the Philippines six. In Mexico, four reporters lost their lives.

The frequency of arrest of journalists for doing their work is particularly high in Africa. According to Reporters Without Borders, it is almost routine for African journalists to end up in police cells when they upset senior officials or cover subjects that are off-limits. In Burma 17 outspoken journalists and bloggers were jailed in a crackdown by the military government.