The International News Safety Institute today formally launched a global inquiry into the rising death toll among journalists. The inquiry the first in-depth survey of its kind aims to examine the reasons behind the killings and produce a report and recommendations for international action to reduce violence against journalists and others involved in gathering the news.
It will be led by an expert Committee of Inquiry comprising news organisations, individual journalists, journalist support groups and legal experts. It is entirely fitting that we launch this inquiry today, World Press Freedom Day 2005, said Committee Chairman Richard Sambrook, Director, BBC Global News. There is no greater threat to press freedom around the world than the deaths of journalists seeking to keep free societies informed.
At least 1,300 news and media personnel journalists and critical support staff such as drivers and translators have died working on dangerous stories around the world in the past 15 years, according to INSI figures. Last year was the bloodiest in a decade. Although major wars take an increasingly high toll more than 70 dead in Iraq in two years most journalists die in their own countries as they report on issues such as corruption and crime.
Alarmed by the growing numbers, a number of news and humanitarian organisations last year invited INSI to establish a committee of experts to report on the legal, professional and practical issues related to the protection of journalists in dangerous situations. The Committee will hear from journalists who have direct experience of violence aimed at the news media in their own countries as well as on foreign assignment. The first of these fact-finding sessions will be held in Kuala Lumpur for Asian journalists on 10 May, followed by Doha on 23 May for journalists in the Middle East. Other sessions will be arranged for local and international journalists in Latin America, the United States, Europe and Africa. The Inquiry will also hear from governments, military and NGOs and examine reports and research from a wide range of other organisations. It expects to take at least a year before publishing its conclusions.
INSI invites anyone with information on or experience of attacks on journalists and other news media workers to contact the Inquiry: Richard Sambrook richard.sambrook@bbc.co.uk or Tel. +44 20 7557 2057; INSI Director Rodney Pinder rodney.pinder@newssafety.com or mobile +44 7734 709 267