According to Reporters Without Borders, 49 journalists were killed in 2019 around the world. The number is high but is the lowest in 16 years. The figure was a drop of 44% from 2018. Other data about journalist safety was not as positive, the same group discovered.
A total of 389 journalists are in prison and 57 are being held hostage. More journalists in “countries at peace” are being killed than in the past. This includes areas one country adjacent to the United States: Mexico. Ten journalists were killed there this year. The organization reports, “As a result of these dual trends – less deadly war zones, but countries at peace as dangerous as ever – more journalists (59%) are now being killed in countries at peace than in war zones.” Reporters Without Borders defines many of the countries at peace as democracies, although in most the government does not, or cannot, prevent lawlessness.
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The number of journalists killed in “countries at war,” which include Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, was pegged at 17, which was down from 34 in 2018.
Of the 389 journalists held hostage, close to 50% are in three countries. These are China, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Each is known for repressive regimes and lack of personal freedoms, including freedom of speech. China holds a third of “arbitrary detained journalists,” which essentially means no reason has been given for their detention, at least not to the public.
While the number of journalists killed this year has dropped, the figure should be zero.
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