Journalists on the line, 9 people killed already this year

99 Asian journalists dead while reporting on the scene

As of 24 February this year so far, 9 journalists were killed around the world while they are covering the news at the scene.

CPJ, international media organization said that 9 journalists were killed this year so far including Marie Colvain, Remi Ochlik, Rami al-Sayed.

Demonstration for democracy such as ‘Arab Spring’ around the world last year, 46 journalists have died from 22 countries while covering the news. In 2010, 44 people were killed and in 2009 74 people have died.

Of these journalists who died last year in Asia were 23 people in 9 different countries such as Pakistan, Iraq, Philippine. In 2010, 24 people were killed and 52 people have at last died in 2009.

In other words, 164 journalists have died in the last 3 years around the world and 99 people died in Asia. This accounted for 60% of the total.

46% of the journalists ‘murdered’

In the past 75% of journalists’ death cause was ‘targeted murder’. In contrast, deaths of journalists in recent years include street protests due to civil unrest around the world.

46 journalists were killed in 2011. If you look at the type of deaths around the world 46% were murdered. 39% have died from their dangerous missions and 15% of them were dead due to cross fire or combat.

If you look at the job of the dead journalists 22% of journalists were broadcast reporter, 13% of them were columnist and editor respectively.

In particular, accounted for 24% and 17% were camera reporters and photo journalists. They are found easily and attacked that ends with death since they work in the forefront of covering the field.

Since CPJ special report published in 1992, the number of photographers and camera reporter’s death nearly doubled and this accounted for more than 40% of all deaths.

The slain journalists worked for the print media, broadcast, radio as well as the growing online media.

CPJ, the Committee to Protect Journalist is non-profit organization founded in 1981 to defend worldwide press freedom and independent news gathering and report.

Choi Sun-hwa sun@theasian.asia