IFJ MARKS ‘END OF DEADLY DECADE’ WITH REPORT ON JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA STAFF KILLED IN 2009
AZG DAILY
03-02-2010
Mass media
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) February 1 issued
its report on journalists and media workers who died in the exercise of
journalism in 2009. The report provides detailed information of media
killings, including 32 victims of a single massacre in Maguindanao,
the Philippines, last November.
"The report is more than just a record of the death toll of journalists
and media workers killed in 2009," said Aidan White, IFJ General
Secretary. "More importantly, it provides a chilling account of risks
and dangers which continue to claim our colleagues’ lives in the four
corners of the world."
The IFJ says that 2009, one of the worst years for journalists’
killings, capped a violent decade which put journalism to the sword
and left record numbers of murders of media people. According to the
report, the death of Michelle Lang, the Canadian reporter killed
in Afghanistan on 30 December and the confirmation of murder of
photographer Jepon Cadagdagon in the Manguindanao massacre brought
the 2009 total of media killings to 139.
The Asia Pacific region recorded the highest death toll with 52
followed by the Americas with 30 killings, including 13 murders of
journalists in Mexico alone.
The IFJ reports warns that the levels of violence against media
witnessed last year raise the likelihood of another massacre in places
like lawless Somalia and gangster-ruled parts of Mexico.
"The failure of governments to take seriously the issue of media
protection plays in the hands of men of violence," added White. "This
can only be tackled by an unwavering commitment to end Impunity for
journalists’ murderers."