Iraqi journalists risk their lives to get the story

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BAGHDAD -- The recent killings of six Iraqi journalists have rattled the country's fledgling press corps, a battle-worn crew that has persisted in covering the nation's turmoil while suffering dozens of dead at the hands of insurgents, government troops and even American forces.

"We are scared working as journalists," said Thamer, a burly radio reporter, sitting in the threadbare cafe of the al-Hamra hotel. "There is no protection and we are well-known people, easy to get to."

Reporters Without Borders counts 68 reporters and cameramen killed so far trying to cover Iraq at war; if translators and other assistants are counted the total is 86, making this the deadliest conflict for journalists since World War II.

Some are simply caught in the crossfire between insurgents, militias, and government and U.S. forces. Others are deliberately targeted because something they wrote annoys one or another armed group.

Thamer, who does political coverage for Free Iraq radio and asked that only his first name be used, said he has not personally received a death threat, but has friends who have. "They get an envelope with a bullet inside, left in front of the house or inside the house," he said.

Iraqi media culture is much changed from what it was under the rule of Saddam Hussein, but still far from the independent and ostensibly objective press familiar to Americans.

Under Saddam, there were three televisions stations, two controlled by Saddam's son Uday, and one run by Saddam's Ba'ath party. The five newspapers and four radio stations were also under government control.

Today, there are roughly 20 newspapers, some 12 radio stations and about 18 television stations, including international satellite channels. But each newspaper and local radio and television channel is owned by a political party or religious group, serving as a mouthpiece for its owners.

One Iraqi reader, Abu Yusef, said he buys five or six papers every day to find out what is going on in his splintered country. "I read the extreme ones because I want to hear what the enemy is saying," he said.

But a friend said he ignores the politics and reads the horoscopes, or the government paper Sabah because it has a sports section.