Journalists play a crucial role in our society; by reporting news and keeping the public informed, they play a part in safeguarding the freedom of citizens.
But they make lots of sacrifices while doing their jobs, at times even risking their lives and getting killed for their work. Even worse, in nine out of ten cases the killers of the journalists go unpunished, according to the UNESCO. Various reports also points out that the threat to journalism around the world is growing.
Organization such as CPJ and Reporters Without Borders (RWB) publish reports on press freedom and they advocate for journalistic freedom.
Based on the reports by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Deadliest countries for a Journalist in 2019 are:
1.Mexico
Mexico has a reputation of being one of the most dangerous and the deadliest country in the world for journalists as of 2019, despite not being in war.
The CPJ has placed Mexico, for the 12th time, at 7th on its ranking of Global Impunity Index report released on October 29, 2019; CPJ’s impunity index calculating the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population.
11 journalists were killed in Mexico in 2019. The cause of death for the Five of them was murder while the motive behind the death of 6 others was unconfirmed.
The 11 journalists were Rafael Murúa Manríquez, Jesús Eugenio Ramos Rodríguez, Santiago Barroso Alfaro, Omar Iván Camacho Mascareño, Telésforo Santiago Enríquez, Francisco Romero Díaz, Norma Sarabia Garduza, Rogelio Barragán Pérez, Edgar Alberto Nava López, Jorge Celestino Ruiz Vázquez, and Nevith Condés Jaramillo.
2.Syria
Ranked as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, Syria is placed second on CPJ’s Impunity Index ranking 2019.
In Syria, four journalists were killed in 2019. According to the Syrian Journalists’ Association, 153 journalists were killed since the uprising in Syria and throughout the civil war.
In 2019, Mohammed Hussein Rasho, Saad Ahmed and Amjad Hassan Bakir were killed during crossfire while the motive behind the death of Alaa Nayef al-Khader al-Khalidi is unknown.
3.Brazil
4.Haiti
In 2019, 2 journalists were killed; Robson Giorno and Romário Barros.
In2019, two Journalists were killed in Haiti; Néhémie Joseph was murdered and Pétion Rospide was killed with unconfirmed motive.
Amid the economic crisis and anti-government protests, Haiti has become one of the deadliest places for the journalists. The growing violence in Haiti has already claimed many lives.
5.Afghanistan
In 2018, Afghanistan became the deadliest country for journalists after 16 journalists were killed in that year; including the deaths of 9 reporters and photographers who were killed in a double suicide bomb attack on 30 April for which the extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility.
Afghanistan is placed 6th in the ranking of CPJ’s 2019 Global Impunity Index.
In 2019, according to CPJ, two journalists were killed in Afghanistan; Nadir Shah Sahibzada Sultan Mahmoud Khairkhwah
6.Colombia
Known to be one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism, Colombia saw two of its journalists killed in 2019.
Mauricio Lezama Rengifo and Libardo Montenegro were killed with unconfirmed motive.
7.Honduras
One of the most dangerous countries for Journalists in the world, according to RWB and CPJ, there’s reportedly increasing harassments and threats faced by journalists in Honduras.
According to CPJ, two journalists were killed in 2019. Edgar Joel Aguilar and Leonardo Gabriel Hernández were killed, with unconfirmed motive for the former at present and the latter was murdered.
8.Pakistan
One of the most dangerous countries for journalists in the world, Pakistan is placed 8th by CPJ’s 2019 Global Impunity Index ratings. It’s known for high level of violence against journalists and Press freedom in Pakistan is also limited with restrictions on critical reporting imposed by official censorship.
In 2019, an independent journalist and blogger Muhammad Bilal Khan was stabbed to death but the motive for the killing remains unclear, according to CPJ.
9.Yemen
Devastated by a civil war and reportedly experiencing the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, the violence in Yemen have claimed many, many lives and thousands and thousands injured, including that of journalists. Most of these casualties were the result of bombings by Saudi Arabian forces targeting Houthi bases.
On January 28, 2019, journalist Ziad al-Sharabi was killed in a bombing in Yemen but the motive remains undetermined.
10.Chad
Chad is placed 122nd out of 180 countries RWB’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index, which says that it’s difficult to be a journalist in Chad due to violence, arbitrary arrests and cyber-censorship.
Obed Nangbatna, a reporter for Chad public broadcaster Télé Tchad was killed in crossfire on May 25, 2019, according to CPJ.
Obed Nangbatna, a reporter for Chad public broadcaster Télé Tchad was killed in crossfire on May 25, 2019, according to CPJ.
11.Philippines
Philippines is ranked 5th by CPJ’s 2019 Global Impunity Index report, having a reputation of worsening press freedom in the country. The country still is one of the deadliest places to be a journalist where, in 2009, 33 journalists were killed in a single year, according to CPJ.
In 2019, Eduardo Dizon, a broadcast reporter was threatened with death and later murdered.
12.Ukraine
Although the press freedom had significantly improved since the Orange Revolution of 2004, the Journalists in Ukraine have reportedly become victims of murders or died as results of the terrorist attacks and military activities on its territory for more than 2 decades.
In 2019, an investigative reporter, Vadym Komarov was murdered and according to CPJ, he used to often report on corruption among local politicians and officials.
13.United Kingdom
Despite the country having a strong independent media, the UK remains one of the worst-ranked Western European countries in the RWB’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index, ranked 33 out of 180 countries.
U.K. becomes one of the deadliest countries for journalists in 2019. This year, a freelance investigative journalist Lyra McKee was killed in a crossfire according to CPJ’s report. She was shot during the rioting in the Creggan area of Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
The last time a journalist was killed in the U.K. was the assassination of Martin O’Hagan in 2001.
14.Nigeria
Nigeria is 12th among the 13 countries being the world’s worst countries when it comes to prosecuting murderers of Journalists, according to CPJ’s 2019 Global Impunity Index.
Journalists in Nigeria reportedly often face threats, unlawful detention or fabricated charges and are subjected to physical violence.
Precious Owolabi, a broadcast reporter in Nigeria was shot while he was covering a confrontation between Shiite Muslim protesters and Nigerian police on 22 July, 2019 and died the same day.
15.Ghana
Although Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and least violent, Ghana has experienced political violence in the past and since 2017, there has been an upward trend in incidents motivated by political grievances.
Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela a broadcast reporter in Ghana who used to cover on corruption, crime, Human Rights, sports and politics was murdered on January 16, 2019.
16.Somalia
According to CPJ, Journalist Mohamed Sahal Omar was killed while carrying out a dangerous assignment; he was one of those who were killed during the car bomb and gun attack on a Hotel in the southern port city of Kismayo.
17.Libya
Stuck in conflict and propaganda war, people live with threats everyday and hundreds and thousands are internally displaced. Journalists face threats and assaults while risking working in Libya. Many journalists were killed and some are missing in Libya, a country where the newer laws heavily restrict freedom of expression.
Mohamed Ben Khalifa, a photojournalist was reportedly killed by shrapnel from a rocket while he was covering ongoing clashes between rival militias in the south of Tripoli on January 19, 2019.