California Journalist Murdered

Chauncey Bailey, who was recently named editor of the Oakland Post, a weekly newspaper in Northern California serving the Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond communities, was killed this morning by an unidentified gunman. Witnesses say that the gunman fired on Bailey, then fled the scene. Police have no suspects in custody yet, but have said that the killing appears to be a “deliberate hit.”

The killing comes during a year that has been cited by the International News Safety Institute as the deadliest yet for journalists worldwide.

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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.

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