At Least 95 Journalists, Media Staff Killed Worldwide In 2018 - IFJ Report

Umer Jamshaid Published February 07, 2019 | 11:37 PM

At least 95 journalists and other media professionals were killed in 2018, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in its report released on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th February, 2019) At least 95 journalists and other media professionals were killed in 2018, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in its report released on Thursday.

"2018 saw 95 journalists and media professionals lose their lives in targeted killings, bomb attacks or crossfire incidents. Yemen, India, Mexico, Afghanistan and Syria witnessed the most devastating toll," Anthony Bellanger, the IFJ general secretary, was quoted as saying in the report.

The figure represents a noticeable increase in the number of journalists' killings as 82 deaths were registered in 2017, according to the IFJ.

"And whilst South Asia is now the world's most dangerous region for journalists, no part of the globe was left unscathed by those who seek to silence the message by killing the messenger," Bellanger added.

The IFJ stressed that the increase in murders of media professionals was happening amid the rise of nationalist and populist movements as well as stigmatization of media by politicians.