Press Report Says 2003 One Of The Bloodiest Years For Journalists

The Vienna-based International Press Institute says 2003 was one of the bloodiest years for war reporters, and one of the most hazardous for journalists of all kinds. The International Press Institute describes itself as a global network of editors, media executives, and leading journalists. In its World Press Freedom Review 2003, which was released today, it says 19 journalists were killed in Iraq and 45 others lost their lives in 19 countries last year. The report says hostile fire, friendly fire, suicide attacks, mistaken identity, illness, and accidents all contributed to the deaths of newspeople in Iraq. David Dadge is the editor of the World Press Freedom Review. He says that just as terrorism dominated last year's press review, the war in Iraq overshadowed other press freedom issues in the latest report. The IPI says that at least some of the deaths of journalists in Iraq could have been avoided if -- in the report's words -- "combat soldiers had been given the same information as [was held by] their superiors regarding the whereabouts of journalists."