2007 Most Deadly Year for Journalists in Over a Decade

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The Committee to Protect Journalists has released a report stating that 64 journalists died as a direct result of their profession in 2007. That marks the highest mortality rate since 1993. Nearly half of those deaths occurred in Iraq, with Somalia following in second place. 2007 is the fifth year in a row that Iraq topped the list, and the Committee reports that "most of the killings were targeted attacks, as opposed to deaths caused by cross-fire." The Committee also states that in Iraq "unidentified gunmen, suicide bombers, and American military activity" are the main perpetrators of the violence. All but one of the 31 reporters killed in Iraq were Iraqi citizens. Committee Executive Director Joel Simon said, "Working as a journalist in Iraq remains one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. These journalists gave their lives so that all of us could be informed about what is happening in Iraq."