The number of journalists killed in the line of duty has decreased this year, according to a report released by media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday. Despite the deaths of reporters in Gaza over the past two months, the report states that 45 journalists were killed in the first 11 months of 2023, down from 61 in the previous year. This marks the lowest number of journalist deaths since 2002, when 33 journalists lost their lives, largely due to a significant decline in Latin America.
While fighting between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas resulted in the deaths of 63 journalists in the Middle East since October 7, only 17 of these deaths met RSF’s definition of journalists killed in the line of duty.
RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire emphasized that the decline in journalist deaths should not diminish the tragedy in Gaza. However, he highlighted the positive trend, stating, “We are observing a regular decline and are very far from the 140 journalists killed in 2012 and again in 2013 due to the wars in Syria and Iraq.”
The decrease in journalist deaths can be attributed to the efforts of intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in combating impunity, as well as increased caution exercised by journalists themselves.
Out of the 17 journalists identified by RSF as killed while carrying out their profession in the Middle East since October 7, 13 were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, three died in Lebanon, and one was killed in Israel by Hamas. In response to these deaths, RSF filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court for “war crimes” in November.
An investigation by Agence France-Presse (AFP) revealed that Israeli tank fire was responsible for the death of Reuters cameraman Issam Abdallah on October 13 and the injury of six others, including AFP photographer Christina Assi. The Israeli army claimed that the journalists were in an “active combat zone” in southern Lebanon, a response deemed unsatisfactory by Deloire.
The conflict in Ukraine also claimed the lives of two reporters in 2023, including AFP reporter Arman Soldin, making him “the only reporter to have lost their life outside their own country,” according to RSF.
In Latin America, there was a significant decrease in journalist deaths, with only six reporters killed compared to 26 in 2022. Mexico alone saw a decline from 11 deaths to four. However, RSF cautioned that Mexico remains dangerous for journalists, citing ongoing kidnappings and attacks. Out of the 84 journalists reported missing worldwide, approximately one-third are from Mexico.
The report also highlighted the issue of imprisoned journalists, with a total of 521 reporters currently behind bars, compared to 569 in 2022. Belarus joined China and Myanmar as one of the three countries with the highest number of jailed journalists. Turkey and Iran were also identified as countries that frequently imprison journalists.
Furthermore, the report noted that 54 journalists are currently being held hostage, a decrease from 65 in 2022.
In conclusion, despite the recent tragedy in Gaza, the RSF report reveals a decline in the number of journalists killed in the line of duty. Efforts by international organizations and NGOs, as well as increased caution among journalists, have contributed to this positive trend. However, the report also highlights ongoing challenges in regions such as Mexico and countries like Belarus, China, and Myanmar, where journalists face imprisonment and other threats to their safety.
Source: The Manila Times
