- Syria most dangerous country for journalists for second year running, with 19 killed
- India continues to be one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in 2013
- Global death toll down by 17 per cent on last year; but worrying increase in threats, abuse and kidnappings of news workers
Syria is the most dangerous country for journalists for the second year running. The International News Safety Institute recorded 126 journalists and other media workers killed in 29 countries this year.
The death toll is down by 17 per cent compared to last year, however the numbers of journalists assaulted, threatened and kidnapped appears to be increasing at a concerning rate. Syria and Pakistan retained their position among the world’s five most dangerous countries for journalists. India, the Philippines and Iraq are also in the top five.
According to INSI figures, 19 journalists were killed in Syria. Most were local journalists targeted by either the authorities, pro-government or rebel groups, or killed by shelling or in crossfire. The Syrian death toll is down from 2012, when 28 media workers were killed.
However, abductions among both local and foreign news media increased this year, a deterrent that meant many international news organisations are now not sending their teams to cover the conflict. At least 18 foreign journalists and more than 20 Syrian journalists are believed to be missing in Syria after being detained or kidnapped there. The Philippines and India were the second and third most dangerous countries, with 13 journalists killed in each country. In the Philippines, nine journalists were murdered by unknown assailants, and so far their killers have enjoyed total impunity.
The numbers of those who were died doing their jobs this year in the Southeast Asian archipelago was boosted by the deaths of four journalists killed while covering Typhoon Haiyan. In India, seven journalists were murdered.
Although many of these murders sparked speculation as to the motive of the killers, not one has been thoroughly investigated, and nobody has been brought to justice.
A further two journalists were killed while covering communal violence in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and four died in accidents while on assignment. Iraq was the fourth most dangerous country for journalists, with 11 members of the news media killed. Ten were murdered by unknown armed groups - seven in the northern city of Mosul. The local and national authorities have thus far failed to respond to the murders. Pakistan remains in the top five most dangerous countries for journalists, where bombings and targeted killings are common. One of the biggest risks for journalists there is being caught up in secondary blasts.
The most dangerous countries for journalists in 2013 are: Syria: 19 journalists killed India: 12 journalists, 1 media worker killed // Philippines: 12 journalists, 1 media worker killed Iraq: 11 journalists killed Pakistan: 9 journalists killed Somalia: 8 journalists killed Egypt: 6 journalists killed // Brazil: 6 journalists killed
The preliminary findings, compiled in liaison with INSI's regional contacts, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI), are a prelude to INSI's biannual 'Killing the Messenger' report, an analysis of media casualties around the globe. Other journalist support groups that are members of INSI maintain separate records based on their own criteria. They are: The Committee to Protect Journalists http://www.cpj.org The World Association of Newspapers http://wan-ifra.org
As a safety organisation, INSI records all deaths, whether deliberate, accidental or health-related, of all news media staff, support staff and freelancers while on assignment or as a result of their news organisation being attacked because of its work.