Pacific Views

A bad year for journalists.

And a bad year for freedom of the press in most of the world.

A newly released report by the journalists' organization Reporters Without Borders says that the status of press freedom was at 'red alert' in 2003. A main reason for this, says the report, is the 'the fight against terrorism and ... anti-terror laws adopted by some countries' since 9/11. The new political environment has led to an increase in press censorship and in the number of journalists facing arrest for reporting the news.

In 2003:
— 42 journalists killed
— at least 766 arrested
— at least 1,460 physically attacked or threatened
— at least 501 media censored

By contrast with 2002 when:
— 25 journalists were killed
— at least 692 arrested
— at least 1,420 physically attacked or threatened
— at least 389 media censored

At 1 January 2004,
— 124 journalists were in prison around the world
— 61 cyberdissidents were in prison around the world

The full Reporters Without Borders report for 2003 is available in PDF format if you go here.