57 journalists killed last year

International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says there was a 25 per cent reduction in the number of journalists killed in the line of duty this year over last year.



The organisation says 57 journalists were killed in 25 countries in 2010, when compared with 76 recorded last year.



The overall data provided by the organisation show that in 2010, 51 journalists were kidnapped, 535 were arrested, 1,374 physically attacked or threatened and 504 media censored.



Reporters Without Borders says while there have been fewer killings of journalists in war zones in recent years, little has been done by Governments in places where crimes are committed to bring perpetrators to justice.



The organisation is also concerned about what it says is a major increase in the kidnappings of journalists.



There were 29 cases in 2008, 33 in 2009 and 51 in 2010.