The Job: News deaths hit an all-time high

by Roy Greenslade (The Guardian, 2007-11-29)

At least 171 journalists and other news media staff have died as a result of their work around the world so far this year, making 2007 the bloodiest year on record for the industry.

With more than a month still to go before the end of the year, the all-time high of 168 deaths recorded in 2006 was exceeded on Tuesday when at least three editorial staff were killed in Sri Lanka during a military air strike on a radio station.

"This horrible statistic should be regarded as a low point in the safety and welfare of the media profession. We need better protection for media workers worldwide," said the president of the International News Safety Institute (INSI), Chris Cramer.

According to INSI's casualty records, the death toll between January 1 and November 28 is comprised of 142 journalists and 29 support staff, such as drivers, translators and news technicians, in 35 countries.

The great majority, 121, were apparently murdered after being targeted because of their jobs. Fifteen died in crossfire or other random attacks, 34 were killed in road or air accidents while the circumstances of one death remain unclear.

The most murderous country again was Iraq, where 64 died, taking the total news media toll since the start of the war to at least 235. Others were Sri Lanka (six murders), Afghanistan, Mexico, India and Philippines (five each) and Haiti, Pakistan and Somalia (four each).

The rest of the story: The Guardian