Killing of journalists should be a war crime – AP chief

Hong Kong - The president and CEO of The Associated Press has called for changes to international laws that would make it a war crime to kill journalists or take them hostage.

Gary Pruitt said in a speech on Monday that a new framework is needed to protect journalists as they cover conflicts in which they are increasingly seen as targets by extremist groups.

Last year was a particularly deadly year for the AP, with four journalists killed on assignment. A total of 61 journalists were killed in the line of duty in 2014, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.