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• Monday, July 9, 2007 08:53 AM

  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
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