PH named 3rd most dangerous country for journalists

MANILA -- The Philippines was listed as the third most dangerous country for journalists, according to the International News Safety Institute's annual report.

Entitled "Killing the Messenger", the report provides information about 134 journalists and media personnel who were killed doing their work in 29 countries.

Syria and Pakistan retained their positions among the five most dangerous countries, with Iraq, the Philippines and India completing the list.

Twenty journalists died in Syria, the most dangerous country for journalists for the second year. Sixteen died in Iraq, 14 in the Philippines, 13 in India and 9 died in Pakistan.

Although the numbers are down by almost 12% compared to the 152 who died in 2012, the INSI is worried by what appears to be a rise in the numbers of unreported assaults, threats and kidnappings of journalists.

"Killing the Messenger" shows that 65 journalists lost their lives in armed conflict situations. However most journalists (69) were killed in peacetime covering issues such as crime and corruption. Most journalists were targeted, and shooting was the most common cause of death (63 percent of such cases).

Eighteen journalists died in accidents – eight of them on the road. Other accidents included four journalists killed by typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, one journalist killed on a construction site in China and one killed by an elephant in India.

Local journalists are more at risk of violence, with 123, or 92% killed covering their own country.

Most of the killers of journalists enjoyed complete impunity, as the report found legal proceedings followed in only three cases. Other assailants remain unidentified.

MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES
Syria: 20
Iraq: 16
Philippines: 14
India: 13
Pakistan: 9
Somalia: 8
Brazil: 6
Egypt: 6
Colombia: 4
Mexico: 4
Nigeria: 4

EMPLOYER/COMMISSIONER
Press: 45
Radio: 35
TV: 33
News Agency: 12
Online: 6
Unknown: 3

CAUSE OF DEATH
Shot: 85
Accident: 18
Blown up: 17

CONTEXT OF DEATH
Peacetime: 69
National armed conflict: 63
International armed conflict: 2

STATUS IN COUNTRY OF DEATH
Local: 123
International: 11

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