2024 Sees a Record High of Journalists Killed, CPJ Report Reveals
In 2024, at least 124 journalists lost their lives globally, making it the most deadly year for the profession on record, with the Israel-Gaza conflict identified as a major contributing factor.
On Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced that 2024 has witnessed an unprecedented number of journalists killed worldwide, totaling at least 124 across 18 nations.
This marks the highest annual death toll for reporters and media personnel since the CPJ began its monitoring over 30 years ago.
The CPJ noted that nearly 70% of these fatalities were attributed to actions by Israeli forces during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, with 85 journalists reported slain in the area.
The organization criticized Israel for allegedly hindering investigations into these deaths, shifting responsibility onto journalists, and failing to address its duty to account for the killings.
In response to these accusations, the Israeli military claimed that it has not received adequate information to validate the complaints, reiterating its dedication to implementing operational measures to minimize risks to journalists and civilians.
The military affirmed that it has never deliberately targeted reporters.
The 2024 figures starkly contrast with previous years, where 102 journalists were killed in 2023 and 69 in 2022. The previous record was established in 2007, with 113 deaths, primarily due to the Iraq War.
Alongside the fatalities in Gaza, CPJ noted that Sudan and Pakistan reported the next highest numbers of journalist deaths last year.
CEO Jodie Ginsberg stated that these statistics reflect the most dangerous conditions for journalists in the history recorded by CPJ.
The report underscored a notable rise in targeted killings of journalists, with at least 24 recognized as intentionally killed for their reporting in various countries including Haiti, Mexico, Myanmar, and Sudan.
The CPJ is currently investigating at least 10 cases that involve alleged targeted killings by Israeli forces, in addition to 20 other incidents where they suspect specific targeting of journalists.
These fatalities occur against the backdrop of Israel's military response to the October 2023 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, alongside around 251 individuals taken hostage, according to Israeli sources.
Moreover, Palestinian health authorities have reported that over 48,000 individuals, primarily civilians, have died due to Israel's retaliatory measures.
As of early 2025, the CPJ recorded that at least six journalists and media workers have already been killed this year.
This marks the highest annual death toll for reporters and media personnel since the CPJ began its monitoring over 30 years ago.
The CPJ noted that nearly 70% of these fatalities were attributed to actions by Israeli forces during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, with 85 journalists reported slain in the area.
The organization criticized Israel for allegedly hindering investigations into these deaths, shifting responsibility onto journalists, and failing to address its duty to account for the killings.
In response to these accusations, the Israeli military claimed that it has not received adequate information to validate the complaints, reiterating its dedication to implementing operational measures to minimize risks to journalists and civilians.
The military affirmed that it has never deliberately targeted reporters.
The 2024 figures starkly contrast with previous years, where 102 journalists were killed in 2023 and 69 in 2022. The previous record was established in 2007, with 113 deaths, primarily due to the Iraq War.
Alongside the fatalities in Gaza, CPJ noted that Sudan and Pakistan reported the next highest numbers of journalist deaths last year.
CEO Jodie Ginsberg stated that these statistics reflect the most dangerous conditions for journalists in the history recorded by CPJ.
The report underscored a notable rise in targeted killings of journalists, with at least 24 recognized as intentionally killed for their reporting in various countries including Haiti, Mexico, Myanmar, and Sudan.
The CPJ is currently investigating at least 10 cases that involve alleged targeted killings by Israeli forces, in addition to 20 other incidents where they suspect specific targeting of journalists.
These fatalities occur against the backdrop of Israel's military response to the October 2023 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, alongside around 251 individuals taken hostage, according to Israeli sources.
Moreover, Palestinian health authorities have reported that over 48,000 individuals, primarily civilians, have died due to Israel's retaliatory measures.
As of early 2025, the CPJ recorded that at least six journalists and media workers have already been killed this year.