PARIS: Nearly 1,700 journalists have been killed worldwide over the past 20 years, an average of more than 80 a year, according to an analysis published by Reporters Without Borders.

Pakistan was ranked fifth, as 93 journalists were killed since 2003 in different parts of the country.

The two decades between 2003 and 2022 were “especially deadly decades for those in the service of the right to inform”, said the Paris-based media rights campaigners.

“Behind the figures, there are the faces, personalities, talent and commitment of those who have paid with their lives for their information gathering, their search for the truth and their passion for journalism,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

War zones

During the past two decades, Iraq and Syria were the most dangerous countries to work as a journalist, accounting for “a combined total of 578 journalists killed”, or more than a third of the worl­d­­wide total, according to RSF. They are followed by Mexico (125 killed), the Philippines (107), Pakistan (93), Afghanistan (81) and Somalia (78).

The “darkest years” were 2012 and 2013, “due in large measure to the war in Syria”. There were 144 killings in 2012 and 142 the year after, the report said.

Pakistan among most dangerous states: RSF

This peak was “followed by a gradual fall and then historically low figures from 2019 onwards”.

But deaths increased again in 2022, in part becau­­se of the war in Ukraine. So far this year, 58 journalists have been killed doing their jobs, up from 51 in 2021.

Eight journalists have been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February. This compares to a total of 12 media deaths there over the preceding 19 years. Ukraine is currently the most dangerous country in Europe for the media, after Russia itself, where 25 journalists have been killed in 20 years.

“Since Vladimir Putin took over, Russia has seen systematic attacks on press freedom — including deadly ones — as RSF has repeatedly reported.

Elsewhere in Europe, Turkiye was ranked the third most dangerous, followed by France “as a result of the massacre at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015”.

Reporters run the greatest risks in areas where armed conflict has occurred.

Zones at peace

But, RSF stressed, “countries where no war is offici­ally taking place are not necessarily safe for reporters and some of them are near the top of the list of those where killings have occurred.

“In fact, more journalists have been killed in ‘zones at peace’ than in ‘zones at war’ during the past two decades, in most cases because they were investigating organised crime and corruption.”

The Americas accounted for almost half of the journalist murders, many in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Hon­duras. “America is nowadays clearly the world’s most dangerous continent for the media,” RSF said.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022

Opinion

Beefing up security

Beefing up security

The issue lies not in the sincerity and dedication of Pakistan’s law enforcement but in their capacity and access to effective surveillance equipment.

Editorial

Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...
Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...