Journalism can sometimes be a dangerous job. This is because it usually involves reports that may expose, incite and attack others, who may feel the need to retaliate. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has announced that 67 journalists and media workers were brutally murdered around the world in 2022. The CPJ said in a report that it released on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, that it was the year that it witnessed the highest number of journalists brutally killed worldwide since 2018. The Committee also said that the 2022 figures were almost twice the number targeted and eliminated in 2021.
The CPJ said that these 67 journalists killed in 2022 are part of the 2,186 journalists who have been murdered since 1992. CPJ’s data of journalists who died in 2022 almost tally with those of the International Press Institute (IPI). The latter’s data showed that as of December 29, 2022, 66 journalists had been killed that year. This is significant because the data is gathered independently and the two organizations do not work together in data gathering.
Deaths of journalists rose because of casualties from Russia-Ukraine war.
The number of deceased journalists and other media workers in the past year grew because of the high number of casualties from the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as the hostile media working environment in Latin America, especially Mexico. The CPJ reports that of the 67 killed, 41 were killed in direct connection to their work. The circumstances behind the killings of others have yet to be known. CPJ said it will continue to probe their death.
Data from the CPJ also show that more than half of the murders occurred in just three countries – Ukraine (15 journalists), Mexico (13 journalists), and Haiti (seven journalists). This is the highest yearly numbers that the CPJ has ever recorded for these countries. To clarify, CPJ’s report does not include journalists who died of illness or were killed in a car or plane crash unless the crash was caused by hostile action. Some might wonder if these criteria will omit some deaths which are made to look like are caused by an illness.
About half of the total deaths in 2022 occurred in Latin America.
Apart from Mexico, Russia and Ukraine, journalists and media workers also died in Colombia, the Philippines, Chad, Chile, Israel, Myanmar, Brazil, Haiti, Turkey, the Palestinian Territory, and the United States. The deaths show the extent of threats faced by journalists and the press around the world, which include countries with democratically elected governments. Another highlight of the CPJ’s reports is that the Russian-Ukraine war caused the death of 13 of the 15 journalists who died in Ukraine. More could die as the war persists.
Most importantly, nearly half of the global total (30) died in Latin America in 2022 – a reflection of the outsize risk journalists in the region face. According to the organization, “CPJ tracks three types of journalists’ deaths in relation to their work: targeted murders in reprisal for reporting–by far the largest category; deaths in combat or crossfire; and deaths on other dangerous assignments. CPJ also tracks the killings of media support workers, such as translators, drivers, and security guards; there was one such killing in 2022 in Kazakhstan.”
Nigeria recorded the worst attack on journalists in 34 years.
The ICIR reports that the CPJ did not record that any journalist died in Nigeria in 2022. There were reports of attacks on the practitioners and other workers in the industry. The International Press Centre (IPC) condemned some of those attacks in a report in June of that year. There are several reports of the government’s intolerance of journalists’ work in Nigeria, resulting in their unlawful arrest, shoddy arraignment and incarceration, including a 2019 report which showed that the country recorded the worst attacks on journalists in 34 years under President Muhammadu Buhari.
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67 journalists murdered globally in 2022-CPJ – This is the highest number of brutally murdered journalists since 2018. – Express your point of view.
It is really unfortunate journalists are not given maximum protection against security personnel while carrying out their work. I hope freedom of press is much more encouraged in this new year.
This is due to the fact that it typically involves reports that have the potential to expose, agitate, and attack other people, who then could feel the need to respond.
Journalism is one of the hardest job to do global because no matter the situation or condition of the environment,they must give account of the event.i.e report of the event took place,the cause,the level of damages or progress and this maybe result to attack that can lead to dealth.
Reporting in journalism typically includes exposing, inciting, or attacking others, which might lead such individuals to feel the urge to respond.
In Nigeria, there have been multiple reports indicating that the government does not tolerate the work of journalists.
Its sad that there is still a lack of information regarding the events that led to the deaths of others.
This is significant since the data are collected independently, and the two entities do not collaborate in the process of data collection.
In Nigeria, there have been multiple reports indicating that the government does not tolerate the work of journalists.
It is a terrible shame that journalists do not receive the highest level of safety possible from members of the security forces when they are doing their jobs.
Journalism is one of the hardest job on ground, it entails a lot of risk. I hope they get the support they need and maximum protection while carrying out their duties.
67 journalists murdered globally in 2022. May their soul rest in peace, journalism is very risky especially those in face of war and other crisis. They need security
The number of journalist killed is much. They risk their lives so that we can get the best of news. A global policy should be enforce that protect the life and right of a journalist in any part of the world.
Brutality and killings of journalist is now on the increase globally. Well meaning people and stakeholders globally, should come together and fight for the protection of the journalist. They risk their lives to get the news to us.
The death of any journalist at the point of discharging their duties is uncalled for a d should be stopped and laws should be put in place to stop this and offenders should be punished.
We have to protect and safe guard our journalist they are doing a dangerous and good job they have to be protected it is sad to see alot of journalist losing there lifes
One of the most difficult jobs in the world is journalism because reporters must provide an account of the event regardless of the circumstances or environmental conditions. It is very unfortunate that journalists do not have the best protection possible while doing their jobs.
When they are doing their jobs, it is a sad shame that members of the security services do not provide the utmost level of protection that is possible for journalists.
Journalism is one of the most difficult jobs there is because it involves a great deal of danger. I pray that they be provided with the necessary assistance as well as the highest level of protection while they are performing their jobs.
It is a terrible tragedy that when performing their duties, journalists are not given the utmost level of safety attainable by members of the security services. After all, they put their lives at danger to report happenings to us.
This is because it frequently involves reports that could expose, enrage, and attack other people, who might then feel the need to reply.
This is because it frequently contains reports that may expose, agitate, or attack others, eliciting a possible defensive response.