In our estimation, Iraq remains the most dangerous assignment for journalists today.

You can never have 100 percent security in any war zone. News organizations that are covering Iraq are constantly trying to mitigate the risk. In terms of expenditure on the safety of journalists, it's probably the most expensive conflict in history, and the casualty toll is reflective of the danger.

It again reinforces Iraq's status as the most dangerous place in the world to work as a journalist today.

There are formidable risks in trying to cover this conflict. Large swaths of the country are simply too dangerous to cover.

It's a fresh reminder of just how dangerous it is for all journalists. Whether they are Iraqis or foreign, independent or embedded, the dangers do not discriminate.

This is one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history for media professionals. In addition to those killed, many others have been wounded or narrowly averted death.