Global Journalist Fatalities Reach Record High in 2023
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported that at least 124 journalists were killed worldwide in the past year, the highest number recorded since it began tracking fatalities in 1992. This surpasses the previous high of nearly 113 deaths in 2007, almost half of which occurred during the Iraq War. In 2022, 69 journalists were killed, while 2023 saw 102 deaths.
Conflict in the Middle East Claims Majority of Lives
Two-thirds of the journalists killed last year perished in the conflict in the Middle East. The CPJ recorded 85 deaths in the region, 82 of whom were Palestinians reportedly killed by the Israeli military. At least ten of these killings were allegedly targeted attacks. Five reporters were murdered in Mexico.
Israel’s Role in Journalist Deaths Questioned
The CPJ’s findings align with those of Reporters Without Borders, which similarly attributed a large proportion of fatalities to the Israeli army. The Israeli military has stated that insufficient information has been presented for it to review the claims. "The IDF has never intentionally targeted and never will intentionally target journalists," the statement reads. Israel has accused several journalists from the Gaza Strip of collaborating with the terrorist group Hamas. However, the CPJ emphasizes that its records do not include instances where those killed were proven to have participated in hostilities.
Freelance Journalists Face Increased Risk
The CPJ had previously reported similar statistics for 2023, stating that of the 102 journalists killed that year, 78 died in the Middle East conflict, including 75 Palestinians. The number of freelance reporters among the victims nearly doubled within a year, from 24 in 2023 to 43 in 2022. Of these, 31 were killed in the Gaza Strip. Freelance journalists are considered particularly vulnerable due to their limited resources for protection.
Targeted Killings and Ongoing Threats
In addition to the ten journalists reportedly targeted and killed in the Middle East conflict, 14 more were targeted and killed worldwide in connection with their work. Three such cases were recorded in both Myanmar and Pakistan, with others occurring in Haiti, India, Mexico, Mozambique, Iraq, and Sudan. "This is the deadliest year to be a journalist in recent memory," said CPJ Executive Director Jodie Ginsberg. The organization foresees no improvement this year, with at least six journalists already killed since the beginning of 2023.
