Number of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty Highest Since 1994

We all know and justly honor the sacrifices that the men and women in uniform make to protect liberty. But a good argument can be made that a free press may be even more vital to sustaining liberty. As Thomas Jefferson noted in 1816:

"The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves, nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe."

Sixty-five journalists were killed in direct relation to their work in 2007, according to the year-end report of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Seventy percent of them were murdered. Thirty-two died while reporting in Iraq.

Go to the CPJ link listing those who died trying to report the news in 2007 here.

Disclosure: I make a small annual donation to support the CPJ's work.