By Nava Thakuria*
2025 Sees 161 Media Fatalities Worldwide
As 2025 draws to a close, it stands out as one of the most perilous years for journalists this century, second only to 2024. The Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global advocate for media safety and rights, reports that at least 161 media professionals lost their lives across 31 countries this year—compared to 179 fatalities in 2024.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza remains the primary hotspot. PEC data indicate that no fewer than 60 journalists perished there, predominantly from Israeli airstrikes. Since the escalation began with Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, a total of 221 Palestinian media workers have died in the territory: 81 in 2023, 80 in 2024, and 60 in 2025.
In the Russia-Ukraine war, nine journalists were killed by fire from both sides. This includes three Ukrainian reporters, French journalist Antoni Lallican, and five Russian media workers struck by Ukrainian forces in border areas spanning both countries.
Blaise Lempen, PEC president, highlighted emerging dangers: “The growing deployment of undetectable, high-speed drones creates a grave new risk for correspondents in war zones on all sides, while access to affected areas grows increasingly limited.”
Regionally, the Middle East recorded the highest toll with 87 deaths, followed by Latin America (25), Asia (22), Africa (15), Europe (10), and the United States (2). Fully two-thirds of 2025’s victims—108 in total—died in armed conflict zones.
Among hard-hit nations, Yemen saw 15 media deaths, including 13 in a single Israeli strike on September 10. Mexico continues as a dangerous non-conflict zone, with nine journalists murdered amid drug cartel violence. Sudan’s escalating civil strife claimed at least eight Sudanese media personnel.
Other notable figures include six in India, five each in Ecuador and Pakistan, four each in Bangladesh, Iran (from an Israeli strike in Tehran), and the Philippines, three in Peru, and three in Syria. Two deaths each occurred in Afghanistan, Colombia, Honduras, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States. Single fatalities were reported in Brazil, Guatemala, Haiti, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tanzania, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.
Impunity emerges as a core PEC concern, driving the rise in attacks due to rare independent probes or prosecutions. The organisation endorses proposals from an October conference in Doha, Qatar, on protecting journalists in conflicts: establishing a UN-backed international inquiry commission and eventually an international convention, complete with a universally recognized press emblem.
PEC also voices alarm over surging requests for aid from persecuted journalists seeking asylum, including those from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Syria, Turkey, and Sudan. Lempen noted in an interview that democratic nations are increasingly rejecting such pleas, leaving vulnerable reporters with few options—a deeply troubling trend.
Unlike some groups, PEC tallies all journalist deaths, irrespective of direct links to their work, as proving such connections demands rigorous, independent investigations that are frequently absent.
In India, six media workers fell to violence this year—up from four in 2024—including Mukesh Chandrakar (NDTV stringer, Bastar, Chhattisgarh), Raghavendra Vajpayee (Dainik Jagran, Imalia Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh), Sahadev Dey (Republic Andaman, Diglipur, Andaman Islands), Dharmendra Singh Chauhan (Fast News India, Gurugram, Haryana), Naresh Kumar (Times Odia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha), and Rajeev Pratap Singh (Delhi Uttarakhand Live, Joshiyara, Uttarakhand).
Pakistan saw five killings in 2025, down from 12 the prior year: AD Shar (Hum News, Khairpur, Sindh), Abdul Latif (Daily Intekhab/Aaj News, Awaran, Balochistan), Syed Mohammed Shah (Ab-Tak TV, Jacobabad, Sindh), Imtiaz Mir (Metro One News, Karachi, Sindh), and Tufail Rind (Royal News, Ghotki, Sindh).
Bangladesh recorded four journalist murders this year, following seven in 2024: Assaduzzaman Tuhin (Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj, Gazipur), Bibhuranjan Sarkar (Ajker Patrika, Munshiganj), Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu (Dainik Ajker Kagoj, Dhaka), and Khandahar Shah Alam (Dainik Matrijagat, Dhaka).
The Philippines reported four deaths, up from one previously: Juan Johny Dayang (Philippine Graphic Magazine, Aklan), Erwin Labitad Segovia (Radio WOW FM, Bislig City), Noel Bellen Samar (DWTZ, Guinabatan), and Gerry Campos (Barangay Sta. Cruz, Surigao del Sur).
Afghanistan had two fatalities—Abdul Ghafoor Abid (Paktia National Radio Television, Khost) and Abdul Zahir Safi (state-run outlet, Kabul)—after none in 2024. Nepal saw one repeat case with Suresh Rajak (Avenues TV, Kathmandu). Meanwhile, Myanmar (three deaths in 2024), Cambodia (one), and Indonesia (one) reported no journalist killings this year.
As the year ends, the question lingers: Can 2026 bring greater safety for those who risk everything to inform the world?
*Senior journalist
