The Sydney-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) declared 2004 to be the deadliest year for reporters.
According to the annual IFJ report, 150 journalists died in 2005, up 21 fatalities on 2004. The group said 60 percent were killed while on assignment, many of whom were targeted in assassinations by political factions, criminals or paramilitary forces. Iraq remained the most dangerous area, claiming 35 lives.
The IFJ said less than 10% of the 150 fatalities resulted in serious investigations or arrests. The report attributed the failures to “a combination of police corruption, judicial incompetence and political indifference that created a culture of neglect over media deaths.”
Meanwhile, the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres reported that over 800 journalists were arrested while another 1,300 were threatened or beaten in 2005.