50 journalists killed in 2020, most in countries 'at peace': RSF

At least 50 journalists were killed worldwide in 2020, according to the second part of the annual round-up of abusive treatment and violence against journalists, published on December 28 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

While the number of journalists killed in countries at war continues to fall, more are being murdered in countries not at war.

RSF tallied 50 cases of journalists killed in connection with their work from January 1 to December 15, 2020, a number similar to 2019 (when 53 journalists were killed), although fewer journalists have been in the field this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

More journalists are being killed in countries considered to be "at peace." In 2016, 58% of media fatalities took place in war zones. Now only 32% of the fatalities are in war-torn countries such as Syria or Yemen or in countries with low or medium-intensity conflicts such as Afghanistan and Iraq. In other words, 68% (more than two thirds) of the fatalities are in countries "at peace", with highest casualties in Mexico (eight journalists killed), India (four), the Philippines (three) and Honduras (three).