0:00
0:00
CPJ Report Shows a Record Number of Journalists Killed in 2024
In 2024, at least 124 journalists lost their lives globally, making it the most lethal year for the profession since records started, with the Israel-Gaza conflict identified as a major contributing factor.
On Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) revealed that 2024 has witnessed the highest number of journalists killed worldwide, totaling at least 124 across 18 countries.
This marks the steepest annual death toll for reporters and media personnel since the CPJ began its monitoring over three decades ago.
The CPJ attributed nearly 70% of these fatalities to the actions of Israeli forces amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, reporting that 85 journalists lost their lives in that region.
The organization criticized Israel for allegedly hindering investigations into these deaths, shifting the blame onto journalists, and failing to take responsibility for the killings.
In response to these claims, the Israeli military asserted that it has not been provided with enough information to confirm the complaints and reaffirmed its commitment to implementing operational measures designed to minimize harm to journalists and civilians.
The military reiterated that it has never aimed to intentionally target reporters.
The toll of journalists killed in 2024 stands in stark contrast to previous years, where 102 journalists were killed in 2023 and 69 in 2022. The former peak occurred in 2007, with 113 deaths, largely attributable to the Iraq War.
Apart from the casualties in Gaza, Sudan and Pakistan recorded the second highest journalist fatalities last year, according to the CPJ.
CEO Jodie Ginsberg noted that these figures reflect the most dangerous environment for journalists in the history of CPJ's records.
The report emphasized a notable rise in targeted killings of journalists, with at least 24 identified as deliberately murdered for their reporting in countries such as Haiti, Mexico, Myanmar, and Sudan.
Out of these, the CPJ is currently probing at least 10 cases involving alleged targeted killings by Israeli forces, alongside 20 other incidents where it suspects specific targeting of journalists.
The context for these fatalities includes Israel's military retaliation following the attack by Hamas in October 2023, which led to the deaths of 1,200 individuals, the majority being civilians, and around 251 individuals taken hostage according to Israeli sources.
Moreover, Palestinian health authorities have reported that over 48,000 civilians have died due to Israel's retaliatory actions.
As of early 2025, the CPJ has indicated that at least six journalists and media workers have already been killed this year.
This marks the steepest annual death toll for reporters and media personnel since the CPJ began its monitoring over three decades ago.
The CPJ attributed nearly 70% of these fatalities to the actions of Israeli forces amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, reporting that 85 journalists lost their lives in that region.
The organization criticized Israel for allegedly hindering investigations into these deaths, shifting the blame onto journalists, and failing to take responsibility for the killings.
In response to these claims, the Israeli military asserted that it has not been provided with enough information to confirm the complaints and reaffirmed its commitment to implementing operational measures designed to minimize harm to journalists and civilians.
The military reiterated that it has never aimed to intentionally target reporters.
The toll of journalists killed in 2024 stands in stark contrast to previous years, where 102 journalists were killed in 2023 and 69 in 2022. The former peak occurred in 2007, with 113 deaths, largely attributable to the Iraq War.
Apart from the casualties in Gaza, Sudan and Pakistan recorded the second highest journalist fatalities last year, according to the CPJ.
CEO Jodie Ginsberg noted that these figures reflect the most dangerous environment for journalists in the history of CPJ's records.
The report emphasized a notable rise in targeted killings of journalists, with at least 24 identified as deliberately murdered for their reporting in countries such as Haiti, Mexico, Myanmar, and Sudan.
Out of these, the CPJ is currently probing at least 10 cases involving alleged targeted killings by Israeli forces, alongside 20 other incidents where it suspects specific targeting of journalists.
The context for these fatalities includes Israel's military retaliation following the attack by Hamas in October 2023, which led to the deaths of 1,200 individuals, the majority being civilians, and around 251 individuals taken hostage according to Israeli sources.
Moreover, Palestinian health authorities have reported that over 48,000 civilians have died due to Israel's retaliatory actions.
As of early 2025, the CPJ has indicated that at least six journalists and media workers have already been killed this year.
