🔴#PANORAMA2024 | A grim outlook for journalism worldwide
Journalists faced growing dangers in 2024. Gaza, Ukraine, Kurdistan and Mexico are among the most perilous regions, highlighting the risks of reporting the truth.
Rediscover the key facts about 2024.… pic.twitter.com/hYoNj5YwSO— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) December 28, 2024
The year 2024 will be remembered as a perilous year for journalists, with hundreds imprisoned or killed for trying to uncover the truth. Discover the main facts of 2024:
The toll on lives: record deaths in 2024
Journalists faced unprecedented dangers, with the Middle East emerging as the most dangerous region for media professionals. Gaza was a particularly deadly zone, with more than 145 journalists killed in Israel’s assault, ongoing since October 2023. Of these, 35 deaths were directly linked to journalistic activities, as reporters covering the escalating Israeli attacks became collateral damage or were deliberately targeted. Such figures reveal a grim reality for journalists reporting from war zones.
Elsewhere, Asia and Latin America were also identified as high-risk regions. In Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh reported alarming numbers of murders, while in Latin America, Mexico continued its long-standing trend as one of the deadliest countries for journalists due to cartel violence and government complicity. The murders are a chilling reminder of the sacrifices journalists make to uncover the truth.
Detentions and imprisonment soar worldwide
In addition to physical threats, imprisonment rates for journalists reached new heights in 2024. The number of media professionals imprisoned worldwide rose to 550, a 7% increase on the previous year. China retained its position as the world’s biggest jailer of journalists, with 124 media workers behind bars. The country’s authoritarian grip on press freedom was mirrored by other countries such as Myanmar (61 detainees), Israel (41 detainees) and Belarus (40 detainees). These figures reflect a worrying global trend of using legal and extra-legal means to stifle dissent.
In addition to imprisonment, journalists have been kidnapped and taken hostage. There are currently 55 journalists held hostage worldwide, with 70% of these cases concentrated in Syria, where extremist groups have long used kidnapping as a tactic to silence dissent and demand ransoms. Such actions not only endanger journalists, but also jeopardise the public’s right to information.
Conflict zones: where truth costs lives
Conflict zones remain the most dangerous environments for journalists, with escalating risks of targeted violence, crossfire and kidnapping. The war in Gaza was particularly harrowing, with journalists targeted by both air and ground attacks. A similar trend was seen in Ukraine, where at least seven journalists were killed in the ongoing conflict with Russia. These deaths highlight the intolerable conditions under which journalists are forced to work in war zones.
In Africa, journalists were caught in the crossfire of civil wars in countries such as Sudan and Ethiopia, while in Latin America, reporting on organised crime continued to claim lives. Mexico’s cartels were responsible for numerous targeted killings of reporters investigating corruption and drug trafficking. The brazenness of these murders, often carried out in broad daylight, reflects the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators.
Political responses: promises and failures
Despite these grim statistics, political responses have been largely inadequate. While some world leaders have condemned attacks on journalists, concrete action to protect press freedom remains scarce. In 2024, the United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom. In countries such as Russia, Belarus and Turkey, governments not only failed to protect journalists but actively contributed to their persecution. In Russia, several independent journalists have faced harassment, arrest and even murder on a pretext of national security. Similarly, in Belarus, the crackdown on independent media intensified, with journalists facing harsh sentences for covering anti-government protests.
The European Union has taken some steps to address these issues, including providing funding for journalist protection programmes. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient to address the scale of threats faced by media professionals around the world. Without robust international mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable, the cycle of violence against journalists is likely to continue.
Kurdish journalists face state-sponsored terrorism
Kurdish journalists face unique challenges, particularly in areas affected by Turkish military action. In 2024, the Turkish government intensified its operations against Kurdish groups, resulting in the deaths of several Kurdish journalists.
On 19 December 2024, two Kurdish journalists, Nazım Daştan and Cîhan Bîlgîn, were killed near the Tishreen Dam in northern Syria. Their vehicle was reportedly targeted by a Turkish drone while they were covering clashes between Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish fighters. The attack was widely condemned by press freedom organisations, but highlighted the extreme risks faced by journalists in conflict zones.
Earlier in the year, on 23 August, two more Kurdish journalists, Gulîstan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, were killed in a Turkish drone strike in the northern Iraqi province of Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî). Both were working for Sterk TV, documenting the aftermath of military operations in the region. These deaths underline the vulnerability of Kurdish journalists, who often work in areas of heightened military activity and are often targeted because of their ethnicity.
The role of advocacy and the way forward
In response to the growing threats, organisations such as Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have stepped up their advocacy efforts. These groups are calling for a stronger international framework to protect journalists and ensure accountability for crimes against media professionals.
The year 2024 has exposed the exorbitant human cost of journalism in a world marked by conflict and repressive regimes. From the battlefields of Gaza to the streets of Mexico and the mountains of Kurdistan, journalists have paid the ultimate price to bring the truth to light. As the international community grapples with these challenges, the need for collective action to protect journalists and uphold press freedom has never been more urgent. Without such efforts, the toll on journalism – and the public’s right to know – will only increase in the years to come.
