More journalists died in the line of duty in 2005 than in any other time in modern history. Headlines such as "Media Death Toll 'Worst' in 2005" and "2005 A Record Year for Journalist Death" herald the somber news today from the the International Federation of Journalists which reported 150 journalists died last year. Of note, more than 45 Iranian journalists were killed in a plane crash Dec. 6, 2005 in Tehran.
According to the International News Safety Institute, "Most of the journalists died
violently - at least 68 by gunfire, 7 by bombs, three by beatings and
two, in Iraq, reportedly beheaded. More than 70 of the dead may have
been targeted because of their work. Others died in crossfire or other
random incidents of violence."
The Committee to Project Journalists found that the Philippines, Iraq, Colombia and Bangladesh were the most murderous places on earth for journalists.
In May, 2005, a CPJ study noted that beginning in 2000 a majority of journalists killed on duty who died on duty "were hunted down and murdered in retaliation for their work." According to CPJ, more than 120 of the 190 journalists killed since 2000 were targeted.
Perhaps we will never see such news in the United States since the majority of journalists killed were not American. Most of the journalists were native to the countries they reported on, placing themselves and their families even more in harm's way. Some of these individuals sacrificed their lives for U.S.-based wire services and news organizations, but we will never know their names or the circumstances of their deaths.
What is the price of news around the world these days? News gathering can be a bloody business at times, that's the risks journalists face. Unfortunately, based on this recent trend, it appears that it is certain to get even bloodier.