The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has published its annual report on journalists and media workers killed in connection with their work in 2025. The figures are stark: 128 media professionals lost their lives last year, including 11 women and nine accidental deaths.
According to the IFJ, the killings reflect a troubling global trend. Journalists are increasingly targeted in armed conflicts, silenced for exposing corruption, or caught in violent political repression. The organization warns that such attacks are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader climate of impunity.
Middle East most affected
For the third consecutive year, the Middle East and Arab world was the deadliest region. A total of 74 journalists were killed there, including 56 in Palestine amid the war in Gaza, despite a fragile ceasefire reached in October 2025. The region alone accounted for 58% of all journalist deaths worldwide.
Other regions were also heavily impacted. Africa recorded 18 deaths, Asia-Pacific 15, the Americas 11, and Europe 10 — most of them linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A call for plobal protection
The IFJ says the growing number of deaths shows that stronger international protection is urgently needed. The federation is calling on United Nations member states to adopt an International Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists, an initiative championed by the IFJ.
IFJ President Dominique Pradalié said that journalists are being killed simply for doing their job — reporting facts, informing the public, and exposing wrongdoing. She urged governments to support a binding legal instrument that would hold those responsible accountable and help end the cycle of violence.
The IFJ stresses that protecting journalists is not only about safeguarding individuals. It is about defending press freedom and protecting the public’s right to information — a cornerstone of any democratic society.
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