45 Journalists And Media Professionals Murdered In 2021

Forty-five journalists and media professionals were assassinated in 2021, a third less than the previous year (65), but the toll is particularly heavy in Asia, especially in Afghanistan, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

“This figure of 45 represents one of the lowest records since the IFJ began publishing annual reports on journalists killed in work-related incidents, including targeted assassinations, crossfire deaths as well as the bombings ”, underlined, in a press release, this organization which has 600,000 members in 140 countries.

It has documented 2721 journalists killed worldwide since 1991. “The risks associated with armed conflicts have diminished in recent years due to the limited exposure of media professionals, who are less and less numerous to cover” war zones, explains the IFJ.

#PressFreedom📰: 45 journalists and media workers were killed this year while doing their job.
That means 2721 journalists have been killed around the world in the past 30 years. #EndImpunity@abellanger49 https://t.co/NPmmABpsFM pic.twitter.com/io1YjYFbki

— IFJ (@IFJGlobal) December 31, 2021

“At the same time, threats related to the domination of criminal gangs and drug cartels, from the slums in Mexico to the streets of European cities in Greece and the Netherlands, continue to increase and explain many targeted assassinations, ” It explained.

Nine journalists killed in Afghanistan

By region, over the past year, Asia-Pacific is at the top of the macabre record, with 20 assassinations, ahead of the Americas (10), Africa (8), Europe (6) and the Middle East and the Arab world (only one). In addition to these 45 killings, there was the accidental death of two journalists in Iran.

If the decrease observed in 2021 “is good news, it is only little comfort in the face of the continuing violence that has claimed the lives of journalists in countries such as Afghanistan (9) and Mexico (8), India (4) and Pakistan (3) ”, estimates the IFJ, noting that “ journalists and media workers are most often killed for exposing corruption, crime and abuse of power in their communities, cities and countries ”.

The organization pleads for “a new United Nations Convention for the protection of journalists”.