The number of journalists killed rose dramatically in the first six months of this year. Since January, 86 media workers have been killed in 26 countries, over 16% more compared to last year, said the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
The continuing hostilities in the Gaza Strip largely explain this very high toll, where at least 31 Palestinian journalists were killed in six months by the Israeli army (more than a third of the six-month total).
"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," said PEC President Blaise Lempen, adding that the ‘fighting must absolutely stop’.
Hostilities in Sudan have also been deadly for journalists on the ground, with six killed since January. In Mexico, six journalists were murdered, one per month.
Fighting between Ukraine and Russia also claimed victims — six in all, including five in Ukrainian areas claimed by Moscow and in Russia.
Another conflict led to the death of four media employees in Tehran, during Israeli bombardments in Iran during June.
Four journalists have been killed in India since 1 January, and three in Pakistan. Colombia, Honduras, Iraq, the United States of America, Peru, Somalia, Syria and Yemen follow with two victims in each country.
One fatality was reported in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe.
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By region, the Middle East was the deadliest, with 43 victims, followed by Latin America with 16, Africa with 10, Europe with six and North America with two.
Last year, a record 179 media workers were killed (including 80 in Gaza), 74 during the first half of the year.
According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), India lost Mukesh Chandrakar, Raghavendra Vajpayee, Sahadev Dey and Dharmendra Singh Chauhan to assailants in the first half of 2025.
Pakistan witnessed the murder of Allah Dino Shar, Abdul Latif Baloch and Syed Mohammed Shah, whereas Nepal saw one journalist (Suresh Rajak) murdered during this period.
Trouble-torn nations Bangladesh and Myanmar have, however, evaded any journo-murder to date this year.
The PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative also noted these incidents and urged thorough investigations.
The organisation condemned all such crimes, expressing hope that the second half of 2025 will be calmer.
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Nava Thakuria is a Guwahati based journalist and associated with various newspapers for over three decades. His focus areas remain socio-cultural developments in northeast India and the media's changing phases across the country.
