70 journalists killed in 2012
A group of journalists, including Tyler Hicks (2nd from right) who was on assignment with Anthony Shadid when he died in Syria Thursday and carried his body out of the country, are pictured March 11, 2011 in Ras Lanuf, Libya, during a pause in the fighting. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
70 journalists were killed this year, according to the International News Safety Institute (INSI).
"Journalists are more than ever in the cross-hairs of the enemies of freedom," said INSI Director Rodney Pinder.
"Despite some encouraging international political moves to halt the murder, the gun and the bomb remain the favored method of censorship in far too many countries.
"Each and every killing chokes the free flow of information without which free societies cannot function."
The Guardian points out that the majority of deaths happen in countries during supposed peacetime.
"Forty-three journalists died in countries officially at peace, victims mostly of vicious criminals, and often abetted by corrupt security forces, politicians and business interests," the Guardian wrote.
Here are this year's top 5 most lethal countries for journalists, taken from Killing The Messenger – 2012 (January-June) report.
Syria: 15
Nigeria: 12
Brazil: 6
Indonesia: 6
Somalia: 6