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Brussels, May 3 2006 - There is no greater threat to free societies than the murder of journalists. If journalists are not free to report others eventually go blind: governments cannot see what’s going on at home or abroad, global institutions stagger and stumble, finance and business wither. The year 2005 was the worst recorded for journalist deaths world wide. INSI counted 146 journalists and support staff – drivers, translators, fixers and others – who died doing their jobs in 28 countries. One horrific accident, the crash of a plane in Iran taking news teams on a military assignment, claimed 48 lives. But more than 70 of the dead were murdered apparently because of their work. And the pattern is repeating this year with 31 casualties thus far. The vast majority of the dead are local news media personnel working in their own countries – the grassroots of the global information order. The circumstances surrounding the killings often are not clear. Many countries fail to hold proper investigations. But as far as can be discerned those responsible include criminals – drug lords stand out – corrupt businessmen and politicians, insurgents and the like. The International News Safety Institute is conducting a global inquiry into the causes of journalist deaths around the world – the first detailed, comprehensive investigation of its kind. The inquiry, launched on World Press Freedom Day 2005, will produce a report and recommendations for action by the international community. It aims to finish work by the end of this year. It is clear already however that a primary cause of murder is the culture of impunity that shields the killers in many countries. Around 90 per cent of those who deliberately target and kill journalists get away with it. So the bullet is a relatively cheap and risk-free means of censorship. Some governments may be complicit in the murders. Others don’t seem to care. A journalist is the natural opponent of the powerful: so what if there’s one less to deal with? But freedom of information dies a little more with every journalist. In the end we are all more ignorant and poorer. In his message to mark World Press Freedom Day this year, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, says free and independent media are key to efforts to eradicate poverty. INSI marks World Press Freedom Day 2006 with a tribute to all who have died trying to tell the story – and with a call to governments to end impunity by investigating and punishing those responsible for violence against journalists and their support staff. Rodney Pinder Director More detail on our website www.newssafety.com For further information about this news release or INSI contact Rodney Pinder, e-mail rodney.pinder@newssafety.com or tel. +44 7334 709267 |