The year 2024 marked yet another grim chapter for journalism, with 104 journalists and media professionals killed globally, over half of them in Gaza, Palestine, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
520 journalists are also in prisons representing a share increase compared with 427 in 2023 and 375 in 2022.
IFJ released preliminary findings of its annual report on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day, and renewed its urgent call for the United Nations to adopt an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists.
The Middle East and Arab World emerged as the most perilous region for journalists for the second consecutive year, recording 66 deaths. The war in Gaza and Lebanon accounted for 55 Palestinian, six Lebanese, and one Syrian journalist killed—totaling 60% of global fatalities in 2024. Since the conflict began in Gaza on October 7, 2023, the death toll of Palestinian journalists has reached at least 138, ranking Gaza among the most dangerous regions for journalists in modern history, trailing only Iraq, the Philippines, and Mexico.
The IFJ had previously appealed to UNESCO on October 13, 2023, to establish a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors, and protect journalists in Gaza. However, these calls have gone unanswered.
Other regions also saw alarming levels of violence against journalists: Asia-Pacific recorded 20 journalist deaths, up from 12 in 2023, driven by increased violence in South Asia. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India collectively accounted for 14 deaths. Myanmar remained hostile, with three journalists killed under the military regime.
Africa saw eight deaths, including five in Sudan, where conflict between military factions has intensified. Somalia and Chad also recorded fatalities, reflecting political instability in these nations.
Latin America reported six journalist deaths, five of them in Mexico, where reporting on drug cartels remains deadly.
Europe, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, recorded four journalist deaths, maintaining its status as the safest continent for media professionals.
The report also highlighted a sharp rise in the number of imprisoned journalists, with 520 media workers jailed globally as of December 10, compared to 427 in 2023. China, including Hong Kong, topped the list with 135 imprisoned journalists, followed by Israel (59 Palestinian journalists) and Myanmar (44). The Asia-Pacific region accounted for nearly half of all detentions, with 254 journalists imprisoned.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger decried the mounting toll on journalists and the fragility of press freedom, urging the UN to adopt a binding convention to safeguard journalists worldwide.
“These tragic figures underscore how perilous the profession of journalism has become,” Bellanger said. “At a time when authoritarian regimes are proliferating globally, the need for press freedom is more critical than ever. The international community must act now to protect journalists and end the cycle of violence and repression.”