UN agency: more than 100 journalists killed in line of work last year News
UN agency: more than 100 journalists killed in line of work last year

The UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) [official website] reported Monday that more than 100 journalists were killed [press release] in the line of duty in 2016. While the number is lower than the 115 killed in 2015, it is a rise from the 90 and 98 killed in 2013 and 2014, respectively, and averaged a journalist’s death every four days. More than a third of all deaths occurred in the Middle East, while another quarter died in Latin America and the Caribbean. Western Europe and North America registered the smallest number, at 5 percent, but still represented the deaths of 11 journalists. The report speculates that the increase is a result of changes within the field of journalism; 90 percent of the victim were local, freelance journalists who did not enjoy the protections of large organizations. However, the data may not be complete—of the nations contacted for information, less than 65 percent responded.

Journalists face the greatest danger in areas of political instability. In July arrest warrants were issued [JURIST report] for 42 journalists in Turkey following the failed coup to overthrow president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In May the UN condemned [JURIST report] the Egypt crackdown on journalists and others. Kenya faced similar UN pressures [JURIST report] after government forces employed violence against journalists and protesters.