Research data reveals the risks faced by journalists

Research data collected by the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and published by the International News Safety Institute (INSI) found a total of 111 media workers died in 2015.

The biannual Killing the Messenger report identified the countries around the world where journalists have been killed for doing their jobs.

Syria, which has topped the list for four years, was once again the most dangerous country for media workers with 10 journalists killed in 2015.

Cardiff University Professor and INSI chair Richard Sambrook said, “From the brutal attack on Charlie Hebdo at the start of the year to the murder of citizen journalists in Syria and beyond its borders, ISIS and associated groups have made it clear that they see the killing of journalists as a means of spreading their message.”

France, Iraq, the Philippines, South Sudan and Yemen were the next most dangerous countries with seven killings each.

Although more than half of the journalists died during peacetime, INSI found only 10 cases in which suspects in the killing of journalists were identified or any arrests made.

“Most of those killed are not involved in major civil wars or international conflicts – they are local journalists going about their normal work of seeking to hold power to account and to shine light on crime and corruption” continued Professor Sambrook.

“Although the numbers remain shocking, and impunity for the killers of journalists remains the norm, the international community is taking the issue more seriously than ever.”