UNESCO: Six in Seven Journalist Killings Went Unpunished in 2024–2025
UNESCO says 189 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024–2025, the highest two-year total since 2014–2015. Six in seven cases went unpunished, while drone strikes killed 50 journalists in conflict zones.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
How the effects could reach youConditional effects
Based on two sources with available article excerpts. Source-linked claims are not independent confirmation.
Event date: The reported figures cover the 2024–2025 biennium. [1][2]
What happened
UNESCO reported that 189 journalists and other media workers were killed during the 2024–2025 biennium. It described that total as 20% higher than in the previous two-year period and the highest since 2014–2015. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Africa: Six in Seven Journalist Murders Go Unpunished, Unesco Reportsallafrica.com · Article published: Nov 2, 2026, 11:31 AM UTC
- Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reportspina.com.fj · Article published: Nov 3, 2026, 12:49 AM UTC
The proportion of journalist killings that went unpunished reached 86%, or roughly six in seven cases, according to UNESCO. The organization said this was a one-percentage-point increase from the previous biennium and the first rise in more than a decade. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Africa: Six in Seven Journalist Murders Go Unpunished, Unesco Reportsallafrica.com · Article published: Nov 2, 2026, 11:31 AM UTC
- Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reportspina.com.fj · Article published: Nov 3, 2026, 12:49 AM UTC
The killings were recorded across all regions of the world during the biennium. UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said journalists reporting from war frontlines were increasingly paying with their lives, while perpetrators were often not held accountable. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Africa: Six in Seven Journalist Murders Go Unpunished, Unesco Reportsallafrica.com · Article published: Nov 2, 2026, 11:31 AM UTC
- Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reportspina.com.fj · Article published: Nov 3, 2026, 12:49 AM UTC
UNESCO identified the growing use of drones to kill journalists as a new threat. Drone strikes accounted for 50 journalist deaths, or 40% of all journalist deaths in conflict zones during 2024–2025. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Africa: Six in Seven Journalist Murders Go Unpunished, Unesco Reportsallafrica.com · Article published: Nov 2, 2026, 11:31 AM UTC
- Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reportspina.com.fj · Article published: Nov 3, 2026, 12:49 AM UTC
A 2025 study by UN Women and the International Center for Journalists found that 75% of women journalists had experienced online or offline abuse and harassment. More than 40% reported offline violence linked to online attacks, compared with 20% in a 2020 UNESCO survey. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Africa: Six in Seven Journalist Murders Go Unpunished, Unesco Reportsallafrica.com · Article published: Nov 2, 2026, 11:31 AM UTC
- Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reportspina.com.fj · Article published: Nov 3, 2026, 12:49 AM UTC
Context from the sources
UNESCO has measured the proportion of journalist killings going unpunished since 2012, allowing the 2024–2025 figure to be compared with earlier two-year periods. [1][2]
What happened before, and what is different now
A documented earlier episode helps explain a possible mechanism. Its outcome does not predict this event.
The earlier episode
In the 2014–2015 biennium, the number of journalists and other media workers killed was lower than the 189 recorded in 2024–2025. [1][2]
What connects them
Both figures measure journalist and media-worker killings across a two-year period. [1][2]
What is different
The current total is described as 20% higher than in the previous biennium and the highest since 2014–2015; the sources do not provide the earlier biennium's exact total.
What to watch here
The comparison shows that the reported increase is not limited to a single incident, but the sources do not establish which countries or conflicts drove the change.
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
2 source links · 2 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
1 of these links repeat a headline already present, allowing for punctuation and publisher branding. Repeated wording is not additional confirmation.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
Questions answered by the reporting
What this could mean for you
War reporters may face greater exposure to lethal drone attacks.
UNESCO recorded 50 journalist deaths from drone strikes during the 2024–2025 period.
Reported basis: [1][2] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The affected journalist is working in a conflict zone where drones are being used against people.
Online abuse against women journalists may be accompanied by offline violence.
The cited 2025 study found that more than 40% reported offline violence linked to online attacks.
Reported basis: [1][2] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: Online targeting escalates into physical threats or violence.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
Further drone use against reporters in conflict zones would increase the documented danger to frontline journalism.
A continued rise in impunity would leave more journalist killings without accountability, according to the report's measure.
Pressure eases if…
Accountability would improve if more killings led to credible investigations and prosecutions.
Protection measures that reduce journalists' exposure to drone attacks and connected threats could lessen the reported risks.
Still unclear
The sources do not identify the countries, perpetrators or individual cases behind the 189 deaths.
The report excerpt does not state how many cases resulted in arrests, prosecutions or convictions.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (2)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Global impunity for journalist killings has risen for the first time in more than a decade, while the growing use of drones is an emerging…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
Global impunity for journalist killings has risen for the first time in more than a decade, while the growing use of drones is an emerging…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
First tracked by DoomRadar: . AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.