57 journalists killed while reporting in 2016

Journalists and security forces take cover from a mortar shell of clashes during a battle with Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq.Photo REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

At least 57 journalists have been killed worldwide during the year, according to the journalist organization Reporters Without Borders (RWB).

The ‘Press Freedom’ group said that 19 were killed in Syria, 10 in Afghanistan, 9 in Mexico, and 5 in Iraq. Almost all those killed were journalists local to the places they were killed.

Despite the fact that the 2016 figure was lower than the 67 killed in 2015, according to RWB, the reduction is because journalists have fled countries that have become too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi.

That reporters have withdrawn from these conflict areas, has led to ‘black holes for news and information, where impunity reigns.’

Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed this year.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today