Journalist killings reach record high in 2024

A surge in global conflicts and political crackdowns has made 2024 the deadliest year for journalists in over three decades, new figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reveal. At least 124 media workers lost their lives across 18 countries last year, a sharp increase that reflects the growing threats to press freedom worldwide.

Nearly 70 per cent of those deaths were linked to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, where 85 journalists were killed, including 82 Palestinians. The data, compiled by the New York-based press freedom watchdog, points to a broader deterioration in journalist safety, as political unrest and armed conflicts escalate in multiple regions.

Sudan and Pakistan tied for the second-highest number of journalist killings in 2024, with six each. Sudan's deaths stemmed from the country's devastating civil war, which has left thousands dead and millions displaced. Pakistan, which had recorded no journalist fatalities since 2021, saw a spike in killings amid political unrest and increasing media censorship.

"It's very clear from our latest report that today is the most dangerous time to be a journalist. The number of journalist deaths in 2024 marks the deadliest year on record since CPJ began tracking fatalities in 1992," Beh Lih Yi, CPJ's Asia Program Coordinator, told The Express Tribune.

Over the last twelve months, she explained, the media watchdog had documented the highest number of work-related killings, with freelancers accounting for close to a third of all cases. She noted that this troubling trend reveals the global nature of the crisis and the need for swift intervention.

Beh emphasized that government officials and local authorities have a duty to investigate journalist killings and ensure justice is served. "What we want to stress is that they are responsible for these investigations," she said. However, she noted that there is often little willingness to hold those responsible to account, which creates a chilling effect on the media.

Consistently dangerous

Beyond the dangerous spike last year, CPJ data reveals another troubling pattern - six countries—including Pakistan and India, which calls itself the world's largest democracy—have remained consistently dangerous for journalists since 2000. Alongside Mexico, Iraq, Syria, and the Philippines, these nations have repeatedly recorded journalist deaths, with little to no accountability for those responsible.

Describing the killing of journalists as "one of the world's safest crimes—a crime to silence the truth," CPJ's Asia Coordinator stressed that the lack of accountability allows these attacks to continue, urging governments, including those in Mexico, India, and Pakistan, to take decisive action to prosecute those responsible and put an end to journalist killings.

According to CPJ, in Pakistan, three of the six journalists killed in 2024 were murdered. Two others were killed after covering militant activity. India, which has long faced criticism for its treatment of the press, recorded the killing of at least one journalist last year, while continued threats and attacks against media workers have fueled an atmosphere of fear.

Referring to the recently passed Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, which critics see as an attempt to silence the press, Beh expressed concern over its implications for journalists. "Just last month, Pakistan passed a bill criminalizing false news," she said, warning that the measure grants the government sweeping authority over the press. "We are very concerned about such legislation because it gives governments broad powers to silence journalists." Under the law, she noted, individuals convicted of intentionally spreading false information that could incite public fear or unrest may face up to three years in prison, fines of up to two million rupees, or both. "Using 'fake news' laws to criminalize journalists threatens press freedom and the public's right to information," Beh cautioned. "At the same time, news organizations have a responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists. Every time a journalist is killed, we lose a truth-teller," she added.

Elsewhere, Mexico remained one of the world's deadliest places for journalists, with five reporters killed in 2024. The press freedom watchdog has consistently flagged the Mexican government's failure to protect journalists, despite having mechanisms in place that are supposed to provide security.

When asked about the methods used to silence journalists, Beh said it was a combination of various tactics. Censorship, CJP's Asia Program Coordinator noted, remains a key tool, with governments using legal and regulatory measures—sometimes unrelated to journalism—to target reporters. "Increasingly, we see financial and regulatory charges used to create a chilling effect on newsrooms," she added.