Iraqi journalists are sacrificing their lives to bring us news coverage

Iraqslogger calls attention to the International News Safety Institute (INSI) report that demonstrates just how brave Iraqi journalists have been in covering the "bloodiest war for media in modern times."

From the INSI press release:

The death toll of journalists and other professionals in the newsgathering team, such as translators, guides and drivers, has risen dramatically since the war began on 20 March 2003.

It mushroomed in 2006-7 -- and Iraqis increasingly have borne the brunt as it has become ever more difficult for foreign correspondents to travel independently outside their protected compounds.

Twenty-three journalists and other news media staff died in 2003, 42 in 2004, 36 in 2005, 70 in 2006 and 16 this year so far. Seventy-five have fallen in the past year since the third anniversary of the start of the war.

Most of the casualties in 2003 were international, when the war was in its conventional invasion phase. But as the conflict turned into a full-blown insurgency and increasingly towards civil war the Iraqi casualties began to mount -- 36 in 2004, 35 in 2005, 68 in 2006 and all 16 this year.

With foreigners largely confined to their bases, Iraqis have become the eyes and ears of the world on the biggest news story of the day...

"The bravery of the Iraqi journalists is astonishing," commented INSI Director Rodney Pinder. "They are not only being killed in horrifying numbers because of their dedication to their craft, but they are being beaten and exiled and their families threatened. Yet without them the rest of us would be blind.

"Their's is one of the truly outstanding stories of modern journalism."

Indeed.