News Organizations Demand Protection of Journalists In Joint Statement

Participants at the BBC's Safety of Journalists Synopsium issued a joint statement calling for the protection of journalists, the BBC reported.

“We have gathered to protest at the increasing attacks on journalism around the world and the damage to free speech that can result from the rise in violence and intimidation against the media," the statement read. At least 70 journalists were killed worldwide in 2013, and 547 have been killed between January 2007 to 2014, according to the statement.

The supporters of the statement ultimately protested the censorship of journalists and fought for "establishing a safe and enabling environment for journalism." The statement called specific attention to Anja Niedringhaus, the Associated Press photographer who was shot dead in Afghanistan while covering the upcoming presidential election. It then pointed to Al Jazeera journalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who have been detained in Egypt since December as a result of their coverage and alleged collaboration with the outlawed Muslin Brotherhood. Finally, the statement drew attention to the hundreds of journalists who have been killed within the last seven or so years, particularly the more than 90 journalists killed covering the three-year-old conflict in Syria.