The worldwide death toll for journalists has risen to "shocking new levels" with 17 news media staff having died violently in the month of April alone, dpa cited the London-based International News Safety Institute (INSI) as saying today. It was the "bloodiest April" for the news media in the past five years, according to INSI. So far this year, 42 journalists haved died in 22 countries, exceeding the 37 counted for the first four months of 2009. The total death toll for 2009 was 133, the highest since 1990. INSI said the figures were a stark reminder of the "terrible price we pay for our news around the globe." It backed calls for one minute's silence in newsrooms around the world to honour the victims on May 3, which has been named World Press Freedom Day.
