Progress has been made in a number of non-conflict countries in combating attacks on journalists for their reporting in peacetime. UNESCO: At least 68 journalists were killed in 2024 Human Rights
At least 68 journalists and media workers were killed in the line of duty in 2024, according to UNESCO. More than 60 percent of the killings occurred in conflict-torn countries, the highest figure in a decade.
Of the 42 journalists killed in countries in conflict, 18 were in Palestine, four each in Ukraine and Colombia, three each in Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar and Sudan, and one each in Syria, Chad, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This grim statistic continues a worrying trend that began in 2023: more journalists have been killed in conflict over the past two years combined than in any two-year period since 2016.
Overall, the number of journalists and media workers killed (68) is down from 2023 (74) and 2022 (88), although several cases are still being verified by UNESCO. The decline is due in part to a decrease in the number of journalists killed outside countries in conflict – 26. This is the lowest figure in the last 16 years.
Experts say the figures suggest that some countries may have made progress in combating attacks on journalists for their peacetime reporting, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, where there were 12 killings in 2024, compared with 18 in 2023 and 43 in 2022.
UNESCO’s figures are based on cases recorded by leading international press freedom organisations. They do not include incidents of journalists killed in circumstances considered unrelated to their work. UNESCO continues to monitor dozens of journalist deaths around the world until the circumstances of the deaths are confirmed.
This process is carried out in accordance with UNESCO’s mandate and the methodology it adopted almost 20 years ago, which ensures strict neutrality and impartiality while maintaining consistent global analysis.
UNESCO also documents and analyses various forms of threats against journalists. Earlier this year, the Organization warned of a rise in new forms of censorship, such as the abuse of financial laws to silence journalists. A UNESCO report published in May found a 42 percent increase in attacks on journalists writing about the environment.