More than 100 journalists have been killed around the world in 2004, and this may prove to be the deadliest year on record for the media, reports the International Federation of Journalists. Recent killings of journalists in the Philippines, Nicaragua and the Ivory Coast pushed this year’s death toll to 101, slightly more than last year and 30 more than 2002, according to the federation.
“2004 is turning out to be one of the most bloody years on record,” said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. “The crisis of news safety has reached an intolerable level and must be addressed urgently.” The Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists says it is the world’s largest organization of journalists, with some 500,000 members in more than 100 countries. The organization says the issue will be “high on the agenda” next week at the first meeting in Portugal of the International News Safety Institute, a newly created industry group.