Many in the Gaza Strip

Over 50 journalists died at work in 2024

(Bild: APA/AP)

At least 54 journalists worldwide have been killed in connection with their work this year. Almost a third of them were killed in the Gaza Strip. This was reported by the human rights organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its annual review of press freedom.

The number of victims worldwide - counted for the interim balance sheet up to the end of November - has so far remained at the previous year's level.

However, RSF (Reporters sans frontières in French) learns of further deaths each year after the fact, which are only included in the statistics at a later date. An increase can therefore be assumed.

War reporting particularly risky
"War reporting was particularly risky," explained RSF. "Worldwide, 31 of the 54 journalists killed this year died in war zones, the highest number in five years." The most dangerous region by far was once again the Gaza Strip, where Israel is fighting against the Islamist Hamas.

Journalists in the Gaza Strip

(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Going back to the start of the war on October 7, 2023, according to RSF, more than 145 media professionals were killed in the Gaza Strip by the end of last month, including at least 35 with a clear connection to their work. Since the start of the war, two reporters have been killed in Israel and five in Lebanon because of their work. RSF has campaigned before the International Criminal Court for killings of media professionals to be investigated as possible war crimes.

But reporters have also been targeted in other regions of the world. "Seven media professionals were killed in Pakistan and five journalists were killed in Bangladesh while reporting on bloody mass protests," says the human rights organization.

550 media professionals are in prison worldwide
There are currently 550 journalists in prison worldwide, seven percent more than in the previous year. The number of imprisoned media professionals has risen in Israel and Russia, among other countries. "Media professionals are killed, imprisoned and kidnapped, and far too often these brutal crimes go unpunished," says RSF Managing Director Anja Osterhaus. "We must protect those who inform us. Their courageous work exposes human suffering in wars, corruption and abuse of power."