Research

Executive Summary This report monitors the Sudanese army's illegal practices against journalists and media outlets from the beginning of the military coup on 25 October 2021 until 8 March 2022. During this period, about 55 attacks have taken place against journalists and local, Arab, and international media outlets in the country. These violations included arbitrary detentions, harassments, raiding and closing media offices, and assaulting journalists physically or psychologically. An analysis of these attacks shows that the de-facto military authority apparently aims to obstruct or block media coverage of the ongoing popular protests against the military...

January 16, 2025 - Source: CPJ -  China, Israel, and Myanmar emerged as the world’s three worst offenders in another record-setting year for journalists jailed because of their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2024 prison census has found. Belarus and Russia rounded out the top five, with CPJ documenting its second-highest number of journalists behind bars – a global total of at least 361 journalists incarcerated on December 1, 2024. While that number falls slightly below the global record set in 2022, when at least 370 journalists were imprisoned in connection with their work,...

January 09, 2025 - Source: Reuters -    Executive summary News organizations are braced for multiple challenges in 2025 that will likely include further attacks from hostile politicians, continued economic headwinds, and battles to protect intellectual property in the face of rapacious AI-driven platforms. Changes to search, in particular, will become a major grievance for a news industry that has already lost social traffic and fears a further decline in visibility as AI interfaces start to generate ‘story like’ answers to news queries. The US election also highlighted the growing power of an alternative news...

Media freedom is vital for democracy, but it is under threat worldwide, with attacks on journalists, censorship laws, SLAPP suits, and surveillance technologies limiting press independence and safety. About safety of journalists and human rights Freedom of the media is essential to enable democratic, free and participative societies. Journalists and the media are crucial to ensure transparency and accountability for public and governmental authorities. Yet media freedom and the safety of journalists are under threat around the globe. In recent years, OHCHR has observed a decline of media freedom in all regions. Various factors demonstrate...

ARIJ surveyed 383 Palestinian journalists in Gaza during the Israeli war, documenting their personal losses, working conditions, and challenges. The survey provides insights through quantitative and qualitative data. Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) has conducted a survey to document the losses, humanitarian conditions, and multitude of challenges faced by Palestinian journalists during the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza. This survey includes responses from 383 journalists who are either in Gaza or were there at some point during the war. While some have since evacuated the Gaza Strip, the majority remain in Gaza, working amid...

Report by IFJ:   The International Federation of Journalists' annual report on killed journalists has continued for 30 years, highlighting the global toll on media workers, often unnoticed unless it's a Western correspondent.   https://www.ifj.org/fileadmin/user_upload/IFJ_white_book__part_1.pdf  

International media's failure to challenge Israel's killing of Palestinian journalists and its narrative allows war crimes to persist. Solidarity and accountability are urgently needed to protect all journalists.   January 4, 2025 - Source: Al Jazeera - Opinion by Daoud Kuttab - Award-winning Palestinian Journalist.   International media’s reluctance to show solidarity with Palestinian journalists could backfire. A December 26 press statement by the Israeli army attempted to justify a war crime. It unabashedly admitted that the military incinerated five Palestinian journalists in a clearly marked press vehicle outside al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee...

  This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information “as is” without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.   Download Document Files:  https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NGO-Action-News-2-January-2025.pdf Document Type: NGO Action News Document Sources: Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, Al-Haq, Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights...

The Observatory tracks journalist killings since 1993, judicial outcomes since 2006, and country responses to UNESCO requests, supporting efforts to address global impunity and enhance journalist safety.   This Observatory provides updated information on the killing of journalists since 1993 and on the judicial status of condemned cases since 2006. It also provides public access to country responses to UNESCO's requests for information into the judicial status of ongoing and unresolved cases. You may browse the full list of killed journalists and search for visual statistics and data. This Observatory makes publicly accessible UNESCO’s work on monitoring and reporting on the safety of...

Since October 2023, at least 217 journalists have been killed in Gaza, with five more killed on December 26. This conflict marks the deadliest period for journalists in recent history.   December 31, 2024 - Source: Al Jazeera - As the conflict in Gaza enters its 15th month, more than 45,400 people have been killed and 108,000 injured. The war has been particularly marked by the challenges of reporting from a warzone in effect sealed off to reporters from outside Gaza, where reporting has been impossible at times — and far too often, deadly. Despite...

IFJ's list of imprisoned journalists highlights individuals detained globally for their work, documenting the ongoing repression and violations of press freedom, stressing the urgent need for action.   https://www.ifj.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Jailed_Journalists_Global___Regional_-_31.12.2024.pdf  

IFJ's list of killed journalists tracks global fatalities since 1990, honoring those who lost their lives while reporting, highlighting the risks media workers face and the need for accountability.   https://www.ifj.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Killed_List_2024_-_31.12.2024.pdf  

The World Press Freedom Index assesses press freedom in 180 countries yearly, based on journalists' independence and safety. Data may update for major events, as seen in Russia, Ukraine, and Mali in 2022. Aim The purpose of the World Press Freedom Index is to compare the level of press freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories. This comparison is based on a definition of press freedom formulated by RSF and its panel experts when developing the new methodology to be used from 2022 onwards: “Press freedom is defined as the ability...

CPJ defines journalists as people who cover news or comment on public affairs through any medium — including in print, online, via broadcast media, or photographs and video. We take up cases involving staff journalists and freelancers. (Read our FAQs here.) Read more: https://cpj.org/data-methodology/  

This database contains information about journalists who have been killed in connection with their work. This could mean journalists who, in IPI’s assessment, have been directly targeted in retaliation for their work or journalists who have been killed while reporting, including while covering armed conflict. Cases are categorized according to the following: Targeted due to work: Journalist was killed – with a high degree of likelihood or certainty – in retaliation for their work or for being a journalist. Covering armed conflict/violence: A journalist was killed while covering armed violence or conflict. Covering civil unrest/protest:...

The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024 Round-up reveals an alarming intensification of attacks on journalists — especially in conflict zones, where over half of the news professionals who lost their lives this year perished. Gaza stands out as the most dangerous region in the world, with the highest number of journalists murdered in connection with their work in the last five years. Since October 2023, over 145 journalists have been killed by the Israeli army, including at least 35 whose deaths were linked to their journalism. What’s more, 550 journalists are currently imprisoned worldwide, a...

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in 2024, 41 journalists and 1 media worker were killed, while 555 journalists and 28 media workers were detained. These figures highlight the ongoing risks faced by media professionals worldwide.   https://rsf.org/en/barometer?type%5Btue%5D=tue&type%5Bdisparition%5D=disparition&exaction_victimes_pays%5B225%5D=225&annee_start=2024&annee_end=2024#exaction-victimes  

The security situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to threaten safety of journalists while protests and post-election repression in Mozambique spilled to November   December 19, 2024 - Source: IPI - See the factsheet below or download it here. DOWNLOAD THE FACTSHEET HERE (PDF FILE) In November 2023, IPI documented 14 violations and threats to press freedom in 9 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The highest number of violations we documented were cases of censorship, which affected 16 journalists. According to our data, state actors – and most often police or...

Syria is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists. At least 30 are reported to be missing or kidnapped, many of whom remain unnamed, and 52 have been killed since the civil war began in 2011. Meet the 10 international journalists identified by the Associated Press as currently missing or held hostage in Syria.   November 9, 2013 - Source: Buzz feed news -   Bashar Al Kadumi, Jordanian dc4mf.org Al Kadumi is a Jordanian national of Palestinian origin. He worked for a U.S.-based television news channel called Al-Hurra. On Aug. 20, Al Kadumi was kidnapped after crossing...

A database of press freedom incidents in the United States — everything from arrests of journalists and the seizure of their equipment to assaults and interrogations at the U.S. border. The Press Freedom Tracker documents incidents across the country, involving national, state and local authorities.   https://pressfreedomtracker.us/  

According to the annual report of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), 2024 was another particularly deadly year for journalists and media professionals. As of 10 December 2024, 104 journalists had been killed worldwide, more than half of them in Gaza, Palestine (55). The IFJ reaffirms its determination to see an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists adopted by the United Nations as a matter of urgency. December 11, 2024 – Source: IFJ –  To mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has published the initial findings of its...

Syria is deadly for journalists, with over 70,000 killed since 2011. Citizen journalists risk lives to expose abuses by all sides, ensuring the world sees violations despite immense personal danger - By Amnesty International. syria_shooting_the_messenger  

December 04, 2024 - Source: Golden Globes -  In a time, when journalism is under attack, there are plenty of movies and TV-series that focus on journalists as the heroes of the narrative. In films such as Lee, Civil War and Scoop, we follow female reporters, who play a significant role in documenting the truth. “It was essential to tell this story now,” says Ellen Kuras, the director of Lee. “Especially when journalists are being targeted physically for the work that they are doing not only on the battlefield but in general. And also because of what is happening to...

Journalist Imran Aliyev faced detention, physical pressure, and multiple court rulings extending his arrest. Experts deem the rulings unjustified under Azerbaijan's criminal procedure laws. Analysis of violation of law during Imran Aliyev’s judicial proceedings Baku City Court of Appeal trial, Criminal Collegium Case 30 August 2024 Presiding judge: Habil Mammadov Judges: Mirzali Abbasov, Farid Eyyubov Defendant: Imran Aliyev Defender: Qanqa Ibrahimov With the participation of Togrul Huseynov, a major of police and Senior Investigator at the Investigation Division for Serious Crimes within the Investigation and Inquiry Department of the Baku City Police Headquarters, and Emil Alizade, a Prosecutor at the...

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) highlights ongoing harassment of Malaysian journalists, including verbal abuse, online attacks, and physical threats, especially in politically sensitive or investigative reporting. November 27, 2024 - Source: thestar.com.my - PETALING JAYA: Harassment of journalists remains a serious concern in Malaysia, affecting them across various platforms, says the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). While the exact numbers may vary depending on reporting and awareness, harassment – both online and offline – is unfortunately prevalent, said NUJ general secretary Teh Athira Yusof. “The instances range from verbal abuse and intimidation while covering...