Since 1992, the Committee to Protect Journalists has compiled detailed accounts of every journalist killed on duty worldwide.

• A database analyzing key aspects of each case can be downloaded HERE.

• Narrative capsules on each case can be found by following the links below.

• A statistical picture of journalist deaths follows. This data, updated quarterly, describes who is being killed, how, why, and where.

Detailed summaries of all journalists killed on duty
2007| | 2006| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992

Journalists killed
January 1, 1992-June 28, 2007

Total: 636

WHO
WHAT
CLOSEUP on MURDER
Job *

Print reporters/writers: 32.1%
Broadcast reporters: 20.6%
Editors: 16.8%
Camera operators: 9.3%
Columnists/commentators: 8.9%
Photographers: 7.4%
Producers: 5.8%
Publishers/owners: 3.3%
Technicians: 2.2%

Medium *
Print: 58.2%
Television: 25.8%
Radio: 17.9%
Internet: 1.1%

Gender
Male: 92.8%
Female: 7.2%

Local/Foreign:
Local: 85.4%
Foreign correspondents: 14.6%

Freelance:
12.3%

 Type of death

Murder: 72.7%
Crossfire/Combat related: 17.6%
During other dangerous assignment: 9.6%
Undetermined: 0.1%

Type of weapon used

(Top categories, does not add up to the whole)

Small arms (includes handguns, rifles): 51%
Heavy arms (includes artillery, air strikes): 15.6%
Explosives: 9.4%
Knives: 7.1%
Hands (includes beating, strangling): 5.3%

 Suspected perpetrators in murder cases

Political groups: 29%
Government officials: 19.3%
Criminal group: 11.5%
Paramilitaries: 8%
Military: 6.5%
Local residents: 1.7%
Mob: 1.1%
Unknown: 22.9%


Impunity
in murder cases**

Complete impunity: 85.7%
Partial justice: 7.6%
Full justice: 6.7%

Threatened before murdered
27.3%

Taken captive before murdered
27.3%
WHERE
WHEN
WHY

Top 20 countries
1. Iraq:109
2. Algeria: 60
3. Russia: 47
4. Colombia: 39
5. Philippines: 32
6. India: 22
7. Bosnia: 19
    Turkey: 19
9. Somalia: 17
10. Rwanda: 16
    Sierra Leone: 16
    Tajikistan: 16
13. Afghanistan: 15
14. Brazil: 14
15. Mexico: 13
     Pakistan: 13
16. Bangladesh: 12
 

2007: 24 (through June 28, 2007)
2006: 56
2005: 48
2004: 57
2003: 41
2002: 21
2001: 37
2000: 24
1999: 36
1998: 24
1997: 26
1996: 26
1995: 51
1994: 66
1993: 57
1992: 42

 Beats covered by victims*

War: 32.9%
Politics: 24.8%
Corruption: 21%
Crime: 13.1%
Human rights: 13.7%
Sports/culture: 3.9%
Business: 1.9%


Methodology

CPJ applies strict journalistic standards when investigating a death. We consider a case “confirmed” only if we are reasonably certain that a journalist was killed in direct reprisal for his or her work; in crossfire; or while carrying out a dangerous assignment. We do not include journalists who are killed in accidents—such as car or plane crashes—unless the crash was caused by hostile action (for example, if a plane were shot down or a car crashed trying to avoid gunfire).

We include only confirmed cases in our database and in the statistical analysis above.

If the motives are unclear, but it is possible that a journalist was killed because of his or her work, CPJ classifies the case as “unconfirmed” and continues to investigate to determine the motive for the murder.

Our archives include narrative capsules of all journalists killed, including unconfirmed cases.


* Adds up to more than 100 percent because more than one category applies in some cases.

** CPJ considers justice fully served when both the perpetrators and masterminds are convicted. If perpetrators are convicted, but the intellectual authors are not, CPJ classifies the case as partial justice.