Geneva: In the first six months of 2025, the world has witnessed a significant rise in the number of journalists killed, with 86 media workers losing their lives across 26 countries, a 16% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva-based global media safety and rights organization. The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has driven much of this toll, with at least 31 Palestinian journalists killed by the Israeli army, accounting for more than a third of the global total. PEC President Blaise Lempen condemned the violence, stating, “The Israeli government is directly responsible for this tragedy, which targets civilians reporting on the situation in Gaza. The Israeli soldiers involved in these war crimes must be identified and prosecuted. This is a massacre on an unprecedented scale, with nearly 200 Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023.” He urged an immediate end to hostilities to protect those reporting on the ground.
The loss of journalists is not confined to Gaza, as conflict zones and unstable regions worldwide have proven deadly for media workers. In Sudan, six journalists have been killed since January due to ongoing hostilities. Mexico, a consistently dangerous region for the press, reported six journalist murders, averaging one per month. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia claimed six lives, including five in Ukrainian areas claimed by Moscow and in Russia itself. In Iran, four media employees perished during Israeli bombardments in Tehran in June.
In South Asia, India mourned the loss of four journalists—Mukesh Chandrakar, Raghavendra Vajpayee, Sahadev Dey, and Dharmendra Singh Chauhan—since the start of 2025, as reported by PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria. Pakistan recorded the murders of Allah Dino Shar, Abdul Latif Baloch, and Syed Mohammed Shah, while Nepal reported one journalist, Suresh Rajak, killed in this period. Notably, nations like Bangladesh and Myanmar, despite ongoing unrest, have reported no journalist deaths this year.
The regional breakdown reveals the Middle East as the deadliest region, with 43 victims, followed by Latin America with 16, Africa with 10, Europe with six, and North America with two. Countries including Colombia, Honduras, Iraq, the United States, Peru, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen each reported two journalist fatalities, while single deaths occurred in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Zimbabwe. These figures represent individuals dedicated to informing the public, whose deaths leave lasting impacts on their families and communities. The PEC’s data shows a sharp rise from last year, when 179 media workers were killed globally, including 80 in Gaza, with 74 deaths in the first half of 2024. The organisation condemned these killings as violations of international law and national legislation, urging thorough and independent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable and address the culture of impunity.
The scale of journalist deaths, particularly in Gaza, has sparked widespread concern, as each loss diminishes the public’s access to vital information. The PEC emphasised the human toll, noting that these journalists were voices for truth in perilous conditions. The organisation expressed hope for a safer second half of 2025, calling on governments and international bodies to prioritise the protection of media workers. The rising number of journalist deaths underscores the sacrifices made by those who report under dangerous circumstances, highlighting the urgent need for global efforts to ensure their safety and uphold the right to a free press.
– global bihari bureau
