Letters to the Editor

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The ongoing journalistic scandal at the New York Times
The Times' public editor documents that the paper's war coverage today is unchanged when compared to its disgraceful prewar failures.
Glenn Greenwald [2007-07-09]

  • Dangerous job, unless you are embedded

    JOURNALISTS KILLED ON DUTY: 108*

    Here is a statistical analysis of journalists killed in Iraq since hostilities began in March 2003, as compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists. CPJ considers a journalist to be killed on duty if the person died as a result of a hostile action—such as reprisal for his or her work, or crossfire while carrying out a dangerous assignment. CPJ does not include journalists killed in accidents, such as car or plane crashes, unless the crash was caused by aggressive human action (for example, if a plane were shot down or a car crashed trying to avoid gunfire). Nor does CPJ include journalists who died of health ailments. Capsule reports detailing each death are available by following the links below.

    * In addition, CPJ keeps a separate tally of media support workers who have been killed. That number stands at 39.

    Capsule reports on journalists killed:

    • for 2007

    • for 2006

    • for 2005

    • for 2004

    • for 2003

    By Year:

    • 2007: 15

    • 2006: 32

    • 2005: 23

    • 2004: 24

    • 2003: 14

    By Nationality:

    • Iraqi: 86

    • European: 12

    • Other Arab countries: 3

    • United States: 2

    • All other countries: 5

    By Gender:

    • Men: 98

    • Women: 9

    By Circumstance:

    • Murder: 70

    • Crossfire or other acts of war: 38

    Responsibility:

    • Insurgent action: 62 (Includes crossfire, suicide bombings, and murders.)

    • U.S. fire: 14 (CPJ has not found evidence to conclude that U.S. troops targeted journalists in these cases. While the cases are classified as crossfire, CPJ continues to investigate.)

    • Iraqi armed forces, during U.S. invasion: 3 (All are crossfire or acts of war.)

    • Iraqi armed forces, post-U.S. invasion: 1 (Crossfire)

    • Source unconfirmed: 8

    By Job:

    • Photojournalists: 27 (Includes still photographers and camera operators.)

    • Reporters and editors: 67

    • Producers: 7

    • Technicians: 7

    By Location:

    • Anbar province (Fallujah, Ramadi): 6

    • Nineveh province (Mosul): 15

    • Baghdad province: 62

    • Maysan province: 1

    • Saleheddin province (Samara): 4

    • Basrah province: 3

    • Diyala province (Baqubah): 5

    • Arbil province: 6

    • Karbala province: 1

    • Najaf province: 1

    • Sulaymaniya province: 1

    • At-Tamim province (Kirkuk): 1

    • Unclear: 1

    By embedded status:

    • Embedded: 7

    • Non-Embedded or “unilateral”: 101

    Type of news organization:

    • Working for international news organization: 45

    • Working for Iraqi news organization: 63

    Highest death tolls among news organization:

    • Iraq Media Network (includes Al-Iraqiya, its affiliates, and Sabah newspaper): 13

    • Al-Arabiya: 6

    • Al-Shaabiya: 5

    • Baghdad TV: 5

    • Reuters: 4

    • Kurdistan TV 4

    Journalists killed in conflicts:

    • Algeria (1993-96): 58

    • Colombia (1986-present): 54

    • Balkans (1991-95): 36

    • Philippines (1983-87): 36

    • Turkey (1984-99): 22

    • Tajikistan (1992-96): 16

    • Sierra Leone (1997-2000): 15

    • Afghanistan (2001-04): 9

    • Somalia (1993-95): 9

    • Kosovo (1999-2001): 7

    • First Iraq war (1991): 4 (All were killed after the official end of the war but died in the conflict in the immediate aftermath.)

    Deadliest year in these wars: 1995 in Algeria, when 24 journalists were killed.

    http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/Iraq/Iraq_danger.html

    -- L.W.M.
    [Read L.W.M.'s other letters]
    Monday, July 9, 2007 08:53 AM
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