Dangerous Road; Sambrook on Risks to Journalists, RSF Press Freedom Ranking

Michael Hedges October 27, 2004

Nobody doubts that recent conflicts pose certain danger and that danger extends to journalists.

BBC World Service head Richard Sambrook, speaking at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York Tuesday (26 October), suggested risks for journalists have increased due to a perceived bias of news organizations.

“Journalists are now at a greater risk than they have ever been before. Where once their neutrality was widely recognized and respected, today they are targeted and sought out, seen as high-profile representatives of their countries or cultures,” Sambrook said.

The same day Sambrook spoke about threats to journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontiéres – RSF) issued its 3rd annual press freedom ranking. Journalists in Northern Europe, according to the report, are most likely to enjoy the freedom to cover subjects of their choosing, without coercion. In East Asia and the Middle East reporters suffer intimidation, or worse. The RSF survey ranked 167 countries.

Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina showed the most improvement from last year’s survey. Nicaragua and Haiti fell the most; Haiti, from number 100 to 125. North Korea ranks last for the 3rd straight year.

Eight countries tied for first place: Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland.

RSF singled out US administered Iraq as particularly dangerous for journalists.

"Continuing war has made Iraq the most deadly place on earth for journalists in recent years and this is the big new thing in this index," said RSF spokesperson Lucie Morillon. "We have 44 journalists and media assistants killed there since fighting began in March 2003."

Two French free-lance journalists have been held hostage in Iraq since August 20; Christian Chesnot, working for RFI and Radio France, and Georges Malbrunot, working for Le Figero. Heightened security concerns have prompted news organizations to withdraw. France’s leading television station, TF1, announced in September it was no longer sending news crews to Baghdad. Other stations, including Germany’s ZDF and ARD have said they, too, were taking a hiatus.

At the Columbia University lecture, Sambrook announced formation of a committee, which he will head, to investigate dangers facing journalists. The committee’s work will be administered by the International News Safety Institute (INSI), formed by major news organizations in 2003 out of concern for the rising toll on journalists. INSI published a safety code last year urging news organizations to consider safety before competitive advantage.