Dang, this is disturbing.

The NY Times reports that more than 1,000 journalists have been killed in the past ten years while in the midst of their journalistic duties - i.e., reporting. Now, I'm not sure what percentage of journalists this amounts to (just how many individuals qualify for the "journalist" designation, I wonder?), but regardless, I'm inclined to say: "neighbor, that's too high!"

Furthermore - and I quote - "The victims, overwhelmingly men, were more likely to be shot and killed while investigating local issues than while reporting from the battlefield..."

Double-dang! As you know, we here at Pegasus News deal almost exclusively with local issues, and proud of it. So, in light of this report (by some Belgian outfit going by the name "International News Safety Institute"), I'm going to schedule a sit-down with my news chief, Mike Orren, to discuss the feasibility of requisitioning body armor for all our journalistic "troops." At least the male ones. And especially those stylish Kevlar undergarments.

Say, I wonder how many of the casualties were film critics? I'd better either start writing more of those favorable "thumbs up" reviews, or packing a thumb-cocker into my interviews.