It’s World Press Freedom Day but…
Journalism, long regarded as a pillar of democracy, is facing one of its gravest threats in recent history as violence against media professionals escalates across the globe. What was once a profession under pressure has, in many parts of the world, become a deadly pursuit.
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Alarming figures have been released by the Press Emblem Campaign showing that at least 27 journalists were killed worldwide since January 1. The organisation noted that nearly two-thirds of those deaths,16 in total, were attributed to actions linked to the Israeli government, underscoring the intensity of risks faced in conflict zones.
The grim statistics add to a broader and more troubling trend. Globally, at least 128 journalists and media workers were killed in 2025 alone, marking a sharp rise that press freedom advocates have described as a “global crisis.” Despite the scale of the violence, accountability remains elusive, with only about one in ten killings over the past two decades resulting in full justice.
Journalists continue to face a spectrum of dangers. Some are targeted in bomb attacks on their vehicles, others abducted from their workplaces, detained without due process, or forced out of their jobs under political and economic pressure. Beyond physical violence, legal systems in several countries are increasingly being weaponised against the press. Laws on defamation, disinformation, cybercrime, and terrorism are frequently deployed to shield those in power, while costly legal battles are used to intimidate and silence critical voices.
Also, the United Nations has expressed growing concern over the deteriorating safety of journalists worldwide. In a statement ahead of the annual observance, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned of the broader implications of these attacks.
“When attacks on the media are normalised, freedom itself begins to decay, and with it, the foundations of peace, security, and sustainable development,” Türk said.
According to UN data, approximately 330 media workers are currently detained globally, alongside an estimated 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers. These figures highlight the expanding definition of journalism in the digital age and the widening scope of those at risk.
Türk paid tribute to journalists and photographers who continue to report under dangerous conditions, documenting atrocities, exposing corruption, and holding both governments and corporations to account. Their work, he noted, remains essential to the functioning of open societies.
Advocates argue that the killing of journalists represents the most extreme form of censorship, one that not only silences individuals but deprives the public of critical information. Each life lost, they say, leaves behind untold stories and unanswered questions, weakening transparency and accountability.
In the current corollary, the calls are intensifying for stronger protections, greater accountability, and a renewed commitment to safeguarding press freedom. Without decisive action, the continued targeting of journalists could erode not just the media, but the very foundations of democratic society.
Ultimately too, protecting journalists is not merely about defending a profession, it is about preserving truth, human dignity, and the public’s right to know.
