2025 Marks Deadliest Year on Record for Journalists Worldwide

The year 2025 has been recorded as the most lethal for media professionals since global tracking began in 1992. A total of 129 journalists and media workers were killed, with the majority of these deaths linked to military actions in conflict zones.

Of the total fatalities, 84 are attributed to Israeli military operations. The report highlights a pattern of what it terms 'systemic impunity for attacks on the press' by Israeli forces. Palestinian journalists constituted the largest group among those killed.

Beyond the Israel-Gaza conflict, Israeli airstrikes were also cited as responsible for the deaths of 31 employees of Yemeni newspapers. Furthermore, Israel was linked to 38 out of 47 documented targeted killings of journalists globally in 2025.

The actual death toll is believed to be higher. Investigators note that restrictions on press access, the destruction of evidence, and dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza have made confirming many cases extremely difficult. According to data from a separate memorial site named for slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, nearly 300 media workers have been killed since the onset of the war in Gaza.

Israeli authorities have acknowledged some journalist deaths but have repeatedly claimed those individuals were affiliated with militant groups. These accusations are rejected by media employers and press freedom organizations as dangerous attempts to discredit the victims.

Journalist fatalities were also high in other global hotspots. Sudan's ongoing civil war claimed the lives of nine journalists, while six were killed in Mexico amid violence linked to organized crime. The report also confirmed that four Ukrainian journalists were killed as a result of attacks by Russian military forces.