Journalist killings reached a record high of 129 in 2025 with Israel was responsible for two-thirds of these deaths according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports. This figure represents the highest number documented since records began over three decades ago, signaling a global safety crisis. Consequently, the international community faces unprecedented challenges in protecting those who report from the front lines of global conflicts.
Over sixty percent of the journalists killed by Israeli fire were Palestinians reporting on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Human rights groups and U.N. experts agree that a genocide is taking place, making reporting there extremely dangerous. While Ukraine and Sudan saw slight increases in fatalities, their numbers remain low compared to the situation in Israel. Therefore, Israel remains a significant exception in the global trend of rising violence against members of the news media.
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The Crisis of Impunity and Targeted Murders
The rising death toll is fueled by a persistent culture of impunity for those who attack the global press. CPJ documented 47 cases of targeted killings in 2025, which is the highest number seen in the past decade. Notably, very few transparent investigations have been conducted, and no one has been held accountable for these deliberate murders. These targeted killings violate international humanitarian law, which clearly stipulates that journalists are civilians who must never be targeted.
Violence Beyond the Battlefield
The failure of government leaders to protect the press also encourages more killings in countries that are not at war. Journalists were killed in Mexico, India, and the Philippines, where governments consistently fail to secure justice for these murders. Additionally, a near-record number of journalists were jailed in 2025 amid smear campaigns and systemic legal abuse. Online harassment and physical attacks continue to rise as hostile rhetoric towards media organizations becomes more common globally.
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Sudan’s Brutal Conflict Claims More Media Lives
In Sudan, nine journalists and media workers were killed during 2025 as the country’s brutal civil war entered its third year . Consequently, this marks a significant increase from six deaths in 2024 and only one recorded death in 2023. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have gained ground over the Sudanese Armed Forces, leading to widespread displacement and death. For instance, Sudan News Agency director Taj al-Sir Ahmed Suleiman was executed by the RSF in North Darfur state.
Terrifying Reporting Conditions in the RSF Conflict
Journalists in Sudan are currently forced to report in terrifying conditions while facing a trail of documented human rights abuses. Since the war began, the CPJ has reported that women journalists were raped and media offices were seized. Furthermore, perpetrators have brazenly filmed and circulated these acts of violence, showing a total disregard for international accountability. Many reporters have also been abducted and held for ransom as the paramilitary groups continue to ignore humanitarian laws.
Ukraine Faces New Lethal Threats from Drones
In Ukraine, four journalists were killed by Russian military drones, the highest annual number since fifteen were killed in 2022. Specifically, Ukrainian journalists Olena Hramova and Yevhen Karmazin were attacked while reporting for the state-funded international broadcaster, Freedom . Additionally, a Russian first-person view drone killed French photojournalist Antoni Lallican during a targeted strike in the Donetsk region. These events highlight how unmanned aircraft have become a dangerous new tool used to silence the international press.
Targeted Killings and War Crimes in Gaza
The deliberate targeting of a journalist by any military force constitutes a clear war crime under international humanitarian law. Therefore, the CPJ has called for independent investigations into the targeted killings of the press by the Israeli military. Among those killed was Hossam Shabat, a prominent twenty-three-year-old correspondent who reported on the assault in northern Gaza. An Israeli drone directly targeted and blew up his car while he was heading to a local hospital.
Drones: The Rising Tool for Press Killings
A clear warning sign in the 2025 data is the rapidly rising number of journalists killed by remote-controlled drones . Documented killings of press members spiked from just two in 2023 to thirty-nine cases during the last year. Furthermore, military drones were confirmed or thought to be behind thirty-three of those specific and deadly incidents. These small flying devices allow killers to visually identify and target media workers from a safe, remote distance.
The Deadly Reality of Reporting on Corruption
Journalists face extreme danger even outside of active war zones due to criminal factions and unchecked political power. In 2025, violence plagued reporters in nations like Mexico, India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. These countries often suffer from a weak rule of law where criminals operate with total impunity. Consequently, at least one journalist has died in Mexico and India every year for the past decade. Furthermore, the lack of successful prosecutions continues to embolden those who seek to silence the free press.
Mexico’s Failed Protection Systems
Mexico remains one of the most perilous places for the media, with at least six killings documented in 2025. These cases remain unsolved because powerful criminal groups hold significant influence over local police and political activity. Specifically, the murder of Calletano de Jesús Guerrero highlights the systemic failure of federal protection mechanisms. Although he was under federal protection since 2014, he was shot and killed in January 2025. His killers have not been identified, reflecting a broader pattern of widespread corruption.
Brutal Retaliation in South Asia and Peru
In Bangladesh, reporter Asaduzzaman Tuhin was hacked to death by a fraud ring after filming a public dispute. Meanwhile, in India, the mutilated body of Mukesh Chandrakar was discovered in a septic tank following his corruption probe. Chandrakar had recently exposed a massive 1.2 billion rupee road project scam on a national news channel. Additionally, Peruvian journalist Gastón Medina was shot dead after criticizing local authorities for purchasing defective garbage trucks. These incidents demonstrate the brutal lengths criminals will go to protect their illegal interests.
Authoritarian States and Political Unrest
Authoritarian regimes also use extreme measures to punish reporters, although formal executions remain relatively rare today. For example, Saudi Arabia executed columnist Turki al-Jasser after he spent seven years in detention. He was convicted on spurious charges of treason and endangering national security to suppress his critical writing. In Nepal, senior video journalist Suresh Rajak died in a fire while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. Therefore, political unrest and state oppression continue to be major drivers of journalist fatalities worldwide.
A Call for Global Press Reform
CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg stated that attacks on the media are a leading indicator of attacks on other basic freedoms. She emphasized that much more needs to be done to prevent these killings and punish the perpetrators behind them. Consequently, the CPJ has called for radical reforms, including the establishment of an international investigative task force. Everyone is at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news, making press safety a vital global priority.
Expert Q&A: Investigating Press Fatalities
Q: How many journalists were deliberately killed for their work in 2025?
CPJ documented 47 cases of targeted murders, the highest number of journalists deliberately killed for their work in ten years.
Q: What is the primary cause of the record-high journalist death toll?
The unprecedented targeting of media workers by Israel is the primary driver, accounting for two-thirds of all global killings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many journalists were killed worldwide in 2025?
A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed, the highest number documented by the CPJ in over thirty years.
Which countries saw an increase in journalist deaths besides Israel?
Ukraine and Sudan saw slight increases, with four and nine deaths respectively, though these figures remain lower than Israel’s count.
What specific reforms is the CPJ calling for?
The CPJ is calling for an international investigative task force and targeted sanctions to bring those who kill journalists to justice.
Were journalists killed in countries that are not at war?
Yes, journalists were killed in Mexico, India, and the Philippines, highlighting a global failure to protect the press from violence.
How does international law protect members of the press?
International humanitarian law classifies journalists as civilians, meaning they must never be targeted or attacked during an armed conflict.