137 journalists and media personnel were killed during 2009. The year ends with one of the highest numbers of targeted killings of journalists ever recorded.
Mexico and Somalia are designated the most dangerous countries for journalists although in 2009 the Philippines came along with a rush of media killings at the end of the year.
The IFJ list of work related media killings is coordinated with the International News Safety Institute (INSI) and contains 137 journalists and media personnel who died during 2009 against 109 killings recorded in 2008. Of these, 24 were accidental deaths while journalists were at work.
In Iraq which has been for most of the decade the most dangerous country for journalists media deaths are down to five killings in 2009 against 16 last year as the country’s political crisis has eased.
But the shocking statistics of the year are found in the Philippines where 38 journalists and media staff were killed in 2009 – most of them victims of a massacre in the Maguindano province on 23 November which claimed 31 media casualties.
The IFJ says this unprecedented attack and continued violence against media in other hot spots is a challenge to governments which in 2006 were told by the United Nations Security Council to take steps to protect journalists and media in conflict zones.
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