Journalists Had 2nd Deadliest Year in 2007

VIENNA, Austria — Last year was the second-deadliest on record for journalists, with 93 killed while covering conflicts such as those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Sri Lanka, the International Press Institute said.

"Journalism remains a dangerous profession," the Vienna- based group said yesterday on its Web site. Deaths dropped 7% from 100 journalists killed in 2006, the deadliest year.

Iraq, with 42 deaths, was the riskiest spot for press workers in 2007, according to the institute. The conflict has also led to the deaths of more 4,000 members of the U.S. military and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians.

Somalia was the second-deadliest location for reporters. Eight journalists were killed there during clashes between Somali troops and Islamic militants, the institute said.

Last year, America recorded its first targeted killing of a journalist since 1993, with the death of an Oakland Post editor, Chauncey Bailey. He was gunned down August 2 while investigating a story.