Research

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...

The Israel-Gaza war has claimed at least 137 journalists' lives since October 7, 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists since 1992. Many were killed amid harsh, life-threatening conditions while reporting. November 25, 2025 - Source: CPJ - The Israel-Gaza war has taken an unprecedented toll on Gazan journalists since Israel declared war on Hamas following its attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. As of November 25, 2024, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 137 journalists and media workers were among the more than tens of thousands killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon since the war began, making it the deadliest...

Journalist Nargiz Absalamova was arrested in December 2023 in Azerbaijan for covering environmental protests in Soyudlu. Despite state suppression, she highlights journalism's role in protecting civil society and dissent. November 25, 2024 - Source: Amnesty - Nargiz Absalamova is a journalist in Azerbaijan, who was arrested in December 2023 under bogus charges in retaliation for her work covering environmental protests. She and several of her colleagues at Abzas, one of the few independent media organizations in the country, are among the many people arbitrarily detained amid a growing crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan. Nargiz is...

In 2023, a total of 43 journalists were reportedly killed in the Arab States, almost four times the number recorded in the previous year. North America, Europe, and Africa tend to be safer for journalists overall, however journalists continue to face threats ranging from online harassment to police violence - By Statista.   https://www.statista.com/statistics/789954/number-of-journalists-killed-by-region/  

Palestinian journalists face severe risks in the occupied territories, with over 900 violations by Israeli forces reported in 2022, including shootings, detentions, and assaults, often targeting press clearly identified as such. June 18, 2023 - by GCHR - By Ahmad Al-Rajabi – Palestinian journalist This article was originally published in Arabic on Daraj Media on 18 June 2023 and in English on 5 July 2023. The English version has been modified since it was first posted here. Shireen Abu Akleh is not alone. The Israeli army in recent years killed or maimed numerous Palestinian journalists working in the...

Journalists face frequent arrests, especially during protests, violating the First Amendment and hindering public access to news. Such actions chill vital reporting and undermine press freedom. By Freedom of the Press Foundation - Too often, police arrest journalists for doing their jobs. These arrests and prosecutions chill important reporting. Arrests and prosecutions of journalists often violate the First Amendment, and they undermine the public’s right to learn about newsworthy events. Data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker shows that journalists are at heightened risk of arrest while covering protests. But police have also arrested reporters...

A UNESCO-led campaign in Mexico City, marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, highlighted the dangers journalists face and the urgent need to combat impunity. November 22, 2024 - UNESCO, Mexico - The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists campaign has arrived in Mexico, and users are calling to raise their voices. In the heart of Mexico City, a unique message was displayed on more than 570 screens in 70 subway stations during a week. A headline about a journalistic investigation into an escape from a detention centre...

Despite UNESCO's initial declaration of the Maguindanao massacre case as "resolved," ongoing legal challenges and the continued absence of many perpetrators have led to criticism. The case highlights the Philippines' broader issues with media killings and impunity. November 21, 2024 - Source: CPJ -  When the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural classified the 2009 Maguindanao massacre — the deadliest attack on the press ever recorded by CPJ — as “resolved,” Philippine authorities were quick to echo and tout this designation. Too quick, as it turned out. UNESCO’s then-assistant director-general for communication and information, Moez...

Journalism as the Fourth Emergency Service highlights the mental health challenges journalists face, advocating for trauma support and resilience training to help them cope with distressing assignments. Summary Journalists have often been considered the "fourth emergency service". They are first on the scene, alongside paramedics, fi re and police, running towards danger rather than away, and providing independent, veritable and crucial information in the public interest. And yet, unlike frontline workers, little (if any) counselling or training is offered to journalists on how to deal with the horrors they witness, and the trauma they absorb...