2003 a deadly year for journalists

The number of fatalities was 23 percent higher than the previous year and took place in more than 25 countries, the federation said in a statement from its Australian-based president, Christopher Warren.

Citing an IFJ report entitled Media Casualties in the Field of Journalism and Newsgathering, Warren said many of the deaths were due to war, although assassinations and simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time were to blame in some cases.

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"The impact of war and conflict on the work of news media cast a long shadow over journalism in 2003," said Warren, who is also the federal secretary of Australia's Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

"War in Iraq, conflict in Columbia, violence in the Philippines left journalists dead in a year marked by growing anger within media circles over the targeting of journalists," Warren said.