The organization reports in its annual report that 45 media professionals died this year around the world. The number of journalists killed in the Gaza war is “terribly high”.
This year, 45 journalists have already been killed around the world in the course of their work – 17 of them in the current war in the Middle East alone. This is what the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports in its annual report on press freedom, which will be published this Thursday.
RSF admitted that this was the lowest number since 2002. At that time there were 33 in total. In 2022 the number was 61. “But this should not obscure the fact that journalists and reporters pay a high price for their reporting in every war.”
Regarding Gaza, Reporters Without Borders spoke of a “frighteningly high number”: “At least 17 media workers have been arrested since 7 October in the Palestinian territories – exclusively in the Gaza Strip (13) – in Israel (1) and in Lebanon (3).) killed in connection with their work. This brings the total number of people killed in war zones this year to 23, compared to 20 last year.” According to the information, media workers also lost their lives while covering armed conflicts in the African countries of Cameroon, Mali and Sudan, as well as Syria and Ukraine.
Better trained and equipped journalists
“The decline can be explained in part and for certain regions by an improvement in the safety of media professionals,” explained RSF. “Today, they are generally better trained and equipped for use in armed conflicts.” Even in areas without armed conflict, media workers are now better protected. “In some regions, legal frameworks have been created that better guarantee your security. Mechanisms to combat impunity were also reinforced. In other places, however, self-censorship may also be responsible for fewer attacks and assaults in the face of increased risks.”
The number of journalists killed in Latin America fell significantly, from 26 in 2022 to six in 2023. “However, there can be no doubt of a structural improvement in the security situation in the region,” concluded RSF.
In 2012 and 2013 the number of deaths reached its peak. At that time, more than 140 people from the media industry died, mainly in Syria and Iraq. (APA/dpa)