Summative report of the 2011 RSF and CPS surveys

            The life of a journalist is not a simple task. It holds a big responsibility and duty to send us information and became a knowledgeable one. Journalists tend to risk their lives to gather news and offer themselves in the service of their own nation. And every year journalist all over the world encountered great danger where most of them were killed for establishing factual information to the people.

            In the latest report of the Reporters Without Boarders for Press Freedom there were 59 journalists killed, 3 media assistant killed, 169 journalist imprisoned, 9 media assistant imprisoned, and 123 netizens imprisoned. It was also noted that the number of journalist killed includes only cases in which the Reporters Without Borders has clearly established that the victims were killed because of his/her activities as a journalist. A brief detail about the recent number of journalist killed was also shown in their report. It includes countries like Pakistan where 9 journalists died, Iraq with 7, Yemen with 6, Libya and Mexico with 5, Somalia, Honduras, and Peru with 3, Brazil, Egypt, India, and Philippines with 2 while only one killed in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, Thailand, and Tunisia.

            On the other hand, according to the report of Committee to Protect Journalists there were 5 media workers reportedly killed,  41 journalists killed with motive confirmed and 33 journalists killed with motive unconfirmed this year. In their latest statistical analysis beats covered by victims has 7% from business, 17% covers corruption, 22% covers crime, 10% for culture and human rights, 56% covers politics, and 22% from war. Statistics also shows that most of the journalists killed are camera operator with the highest percentage of 22% while the least job is the publisher with 10%. Most of the journalists killed are males with 98% and females with only 2%. Suspected source of fire in murder cases includes criminal group with 29%, 18% from government officials, 6% from paramilitary group, 12% from political group, and 35% unknown. The type of death which journalists experienced was through murder with 41% which is the highest, 39% through dangerous assignment, and 20% through cross fire. Most of the murder victims are taken captive, threatened, and tortured.

            The CPJ also have a report regarding to the deadliest countries in the world. Their latest rankings are as follows:

1. Pakistan: 7                              10.  Philippines: 2                         19.  Peru: 1
2. Iraq: 5                                     11.  Nigeria: 1
3. Libya: 5                                   12.  Somalia: 1
4. Mexico: 3                                 13.  Thailand: 1
5. Bahrain: 2                                14.  Dominican Republic: 1
6. Afghanistan: 2                         15.  Vietnam: 1
7. Egypt: 2                                   16.  Ivory Coast: 1
8. Yemen: 2                                  17.  Syria: 1
9. Brazil: 2                                     18.  Tunisia: 1

            As what I have observed the most dangerous country and has the highest number of journalist killed this year is from Pakistan. It remains to its spot as first place from 2010 survey. While from the 2009 survey the Philippines created a record of 33 journalists killed due to the Maguindanao massacre. From being at the first spot it gradually descended at the tenth spot with only 2 journalists killed.

            It seems that every year there are new sets of journalist killed from all over the world. It was just really happened that danger is part of their lives. I am just hoping that the world and the people will change and aim for good to stop these killings.