24.02.2025 Media industry
The Deadliest Year for Journalism. 124 Fatalities in 2024
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The year 2024 was the deadliest for media professionals since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking these statistics. The tragic figures, published in CPJs latest special report, reached record highs in most monitored categories.
w wydaniu polskim
illustration: DALL-EAt least 124 journalists and media workers lost their lives last year. This surpasses the 2007 record, when the Iraq War accounted for nearly half of the 113 journalist casualties. A staggering 85 journalists were killed in the Israel-Palestine conflict zone. In total, deaths were documented in 16 countries, with the highest numbers in:
| Country | Journalists Killed in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Gaza Strip | 82 |
| Sudan | 6 |
| Pakistan | 6 |
| Mexico | 5 |
| Syria | 4 |
| Myanmar | 3 |
| Iraq | 3 |
| Haiti | 2 |
More global conflicts mean greater danger for journalists. The number of wars - both political and criminal - has doubled over the past five years.
CPJ`s database of journalist fatalities is divided into two main categories: "confirmed" and "unconfirmed." Deaths are classified as "confirmed" when evidence shows the journalist was killed due to their work and "unconfirmed" when there is insufficient information to determine the motive.
Who Dies on the Front Lines?
Among the victims were both reporters working for major organizations and freelancers, who often take the greatest risks. Of the 124 journalists killed in 2024, 43 were independent journalists.
- 31 freelancers were killed in Gaza, where many journalists lost their jobs after their newsrooms were destroyed.
- Independent reporters are more often without protective equipment and financial support.
- In 2024, CPJ provided financial aid to 114 freelancers, 31 more than the previous year.
In Gaza, freelancers played a crucial role, as the Israeli military restricted foreign journalists` access to the area. Their reports became the primary source of information for global media.
| Indicator | 2024 | Previous Record |
|---|---|---|
| Total Journalists Killed | 124 | 113 (2007) |
| Total Work-Related Killings | 103 | 81 (2023) |
| Highest Number of Journalists Killed in a Single Country | 85 | 78 (2023) |
| Freelancers Killed | 43 | 24 (2013) |
The tragic figures published in CPJ’s latest special report were the highest in all monitored categories.
Targeted Killings and Drones as Weapons
Not all journalists die from shelling or airstrikes. CPJ documented at least 24 targeted killings of journalists in 2024.
One example is Hamza Al Dahdouh, a cameraman for Al Jazeera, who was killed on January 7 in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza. He was accompanied by independent reporter Mustafa Thuraya. Both were returning from covering refugee stories when their vehicle was hit.
Another victim was 27-year-old Ismail Al Ghoul, a journalist for Al Jazeera Arabic TV, who, along with his colleague Rami Al Refee, was killed in July in an Israeli drone strike on their vehicle. CPJ emphasizes that journalist murders stem from increasing impunity. The fewer investigations and convictions, the higher the number of victims in the coming years.
CPJ’s special report also highlights that an increasing number of journalists are being killed in drone attacks.
- 4 out of 10 targeted killings in Gaza were carried out using drones.
- In Iraq and Syria, Turkish drones killed reporters suspected of having ties to Kurdish militants.
- In Pakistan, journalists fell victim to attacks linked to extremist activities.
In Myanmar, journalists have started being treated as enemies of the regime. Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu were shot dead in August by military forces in their home.
Countries That Do Not Protect Journalists
Some governments not only fail to prosecute perpetrators but actively attempt to cover up crimes against journalists. CPJ provides several examples:
- Israel regularly accuses slain reporters of collaborating with terrorist organizations.
- Pakistan has ignored journalist murder investigations for years.
- Myanmar considers reporters enemies of the state and suppresses independent media.
- Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with authorities rarely conducting effective investigations.
CPJ’s 2024 special report stresses that systemic impunity encourages further attacks on journalists, leading to a growing number of victims each year.
***
The full Committee to Protect Journalists special report is available at https://cpj.org/.
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