2007 is Journalists' Deadliest Year So Far

According to mid-year statistics released last week by the International News Safety Institute (INSI), the worldwide journalist death toll has reached 100 during 2007, surpassing the level reached in mid-2006, when 68 journalists had been killed. (There were a total of 168 journalists killed in 2006—the worst year on record.)

This year’s milestone was reached in Iraq, where 57-year-old veteran journalist Hamed Sarha was killed by an unidentified gunman on his way home, leaving a widow and five children. During his career, Sarha had reported for various publications and for the Iraqi news agency. The dangers of reporting in Iraq are emphasized by INSI’s tally of 214 journalists killed since the beginning of the occupation in March 2003.

For more information and a detailed account of the casualties, visit http://www.newssafety.com/casualties/2007.htm.