According to the reports of Reporter Without Borders, India is the third most unsafe places for journalists after Syria and Iraq which by virtue of their respective turmoil are war zones.
Since 1992, close to 70 journalists have lost their lives and if the Committee to Protect Journalists’ claims are anything to go by as many as 46 percent journalists who were killed while working were covering politics; 35 per cent of them were covering corruption.
This would surprise many that even states like Pakistan and Afghanistan whom we often refer as failed states fare far better than India when it comes to the safety of journalists. In 2015, Pakistan has seen deaths of only two journalists whereas Afghanistan despite being a conflict zone has seen none.
The International Federation of Journalists reported that 122 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024 alone.
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Here is an updated and complete list, including the Indian journalists alongside those from other countries who have lost their lives for the pursuit of truth:
Anna Politkovskaya
Image Credit: “ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA” by RubyGoes is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.
Anna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist known for her critical coverage of the Second Chechen War. She reported on human rights abuses and corruption within the Russian government, often at great personal risk. Politkovskaya faced numerous threats and survived a poisoning attempt before she was tragically assassinated in 2006. Her work continues to inspire journalists worldwide to speak truth to power.
Jamal Khashoggi
Image Credit: “Jamal Khashoggi in March 2018” by April Brady / POMED is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian journalist who wrote for The Washington Post. He was critical of the Saudi government and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2018, Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, sparking international outrage. His death highlighted the dangers faced by journalists who challenge authoritarian regimes and the importance of protecting press freedom globally.
Veronica Guerin
Image Credit: “VERONICA GUERIN MEMORIAL [DUBH LINN GARDENS AT DUBLIN CASTLE]-126344” by infomatique is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Veronica Guerin was an Irish crime reporter who investigated and exposed Dublin’s drug lords in the 1990s. Her fearless reporting made her a target, and she survived multiple attacks before being murdered in 1996. Guerin’s death led to significant changes in Irish law to combat organized crime. Her legacy continues to inspire journalists to pursue difficult and dangerous stories in the public interest.
Ida B. Wells
Image Credit: “Ida B. Wells Memphis Statue” by Southern Hollows/S. Liles is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/?ref=openverse.
Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She bravely reported on lynchings in the American South, facing threats and exile for her work. Wells’ investigative journalism helped expose the horrors of racial violence and contributed to the early civil rights movement. Her courage in the face of extreme danger set a powerful example for future generations of journalists.
Marie Colvin
Image Credit: tookapic from Pixabay
Marie Colvin was an American war correspondent who covered conflicts around the world for over 30 years. She lost an eye while reporting in Sri Lanka and continued her work wearing an eye patch. Colvin was killed in 2012 while covering the siege of Homs in Syria. Her dedication to telling the stories of people caught in war zones made her one of the most respected journalists of her time.
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Image Credit: “File:Great Siege Monument and temporal Daphne Caruana Galizia Monument 03.jpg” by Continentaleurope is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese journalist known for her investigative reporting on government corruption. She faced numerous legal and personal threats for her work exposing wrongdoing by powerful figures in Malta. Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in 2017, shocking the world and highlighting the dangers faced by journalists in Europe. Her death led to major political changes in Malta and renewed calls for protecting journalists.
Ján Kuciak
Image Credit: “A wake for the murdered Ján Kuciak en Martina Kušnírová in Slovakia (2018)” by Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ján Kuciak was a Slovak investigative journalist who reported on tax fraud among Slovak businessmen and their connections to high-ranking government officials. His work exposed corruption at the highest levels of Slovak society. Kuciak and his fiancée were murdered in their home in 2018, leading to mass protests and the eventual resignation of Slovakia’s prime minister. His death brought attention to the risks faced by journalists in Central Europe.
Lyra McKee
Image Credit: “Lyra McKee (33207175144)” by International Journalism Festival from Perugia, Italia is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Lyra McKee was a Northern Irish journalist who wrote about the consequences of the Troubles. She was known for her work on LGBTQ issues and the effects of violence on the younger generation in Northern Ireland. McKee was killed in 2019 while observing rioting in Derry. Her death shocked many and highlighted the ongoing tensions in Northern Ireland, as well as the risks journalists face even in seemingly peaceful areas.
Javier Valdez Cárdenas
Image Credit: “Javier Valdez Cárdenas” by Luis Antonio García Sepúlveda is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Javier Valdez Cárdenas was a Mexican journalist who reported on drug trafficking and organized crime. He founded a newspaper in Sinaloa, one of Mexico’s most violent states, to cover stories often ignored by mainstream media. Valdez was murdered in 2017, becoming one of many journalists killed in Mexico for their work. His death underscored the extreme dangers faced by reporters covering drug cartels and corruption in Latin America.
Lasantha Wickrematunge
Image Credit: “Portrait of Lasantha” by MalindaRanasingh is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Lasantha Wickrematunge was a Sri Lankan journalist known for his criticism of the government during the Sri Lankan Civil War. He predicted his own murder in an editorial published after his death, pointing to government involvement. Wickrematunge was assassinated in 2009, shocking the world and highlighting the risks faced by journalists in conflict zones. His posthumous editorial became a powerful indictment of attacks on press freedom.
James Foley
Image Credit: “James Foley 2012” by AlternateFocus is licensed under CC BY 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/?ref=openverse.
James Foley was an American journalist and war correspondent who covered conflicts in Libya and Syria. He was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 and held captive by ISIS for nearly two years. Foley was brutally murdered by ISIS in 2014, with a video of his execution shared online. His death brought attention to the extreme dangers faced by journalists in war zones and the tactics used by terrorist groups to intimidate the press.
Alexei Navalny
Image Credit: “Alexei Navalny” by Evgeny Feldman / Novaya Gazeta is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
While primarily known as a political activist, Alexei Navalny has also worked as an investigative journalist, exposing corruption in Russia. He has faced numerous arrests, attacks, and a near-fatal poisoning for his work. Navalny’s investigations, often published through social media and YouTube, have revealed high-level corruption in the Russian government. His continued activism, despite grave personal risk, inspired many and highlighted the power of digital journalism.
Shireen Abu Akleh
Image Credit: “Shireen Abu Akleh” by Al Jazeera Media Network is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shireen Abu Akleh was a Palestinian-American journalist who worked for Al Jazeera for 25 years, covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She was known for her brave reporting from the front lines and was a familiar face to millions across the Arab world. Abu Akleh was killed in 2022 while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank. Her death sparked international outrage and renewed discussions about the safety of journalists in conflict zones.
Gauri Lankesh
Image Credit: “Gauri Lankesh” by Hari Prasad Nadig is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Gauri Lankesh was an Indian journalist known for her criticism of right-wing extremism and the caste system. She edited a weekly newspaper that often published articles critical of Hindu nationalism and the Indian government. Lankesh was murdered outside her home in 2017, shocking India and sparking debates about press freedom in the country. Her death highlighted the growing risks faced by journalists who challenge powerful political and social forces in India.
1. Santanu Bhowmick
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Bhowmick, a political journalist from Din Raat news channel, was beaten to death while covering the road blockade by the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) that had turned violent. Inspite of identifying himself as a journalist, he was fatally attacked with sharp weapons.
2. Ram Chander Chhatrapati
Chhatrapati was murdered for exposing Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the rape case levelled against the self-proclaimed god. Chhatrapati was the publisher of a local Hindi newspaper, Poora Sach (Complete Truth), that brought the rape case to the forefront, based on an anonymous letter written by a sadhvi accusing Ram Rahim of raping her.
3. Gauri Lankesh
Senior journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was murdered by three unknown assailants who shot her dead right at the gates of her house in Bangaluru on September 5, 2017. Gauri was well known for her stand against Hindu Right-wing violence against minorities in India.
4. Tarun Mishra
On February 13, 2016, in Sultanpur, UP, Sandesh Times Bureau chief Tarun Mishra was killed in broad daylight. Mishra was travelling in his car when he was assailed by two gunmen on a motorcycle.
5. Indradev Yadav aka Akhilesh Pratap Yadav
In May 2016, TV journalist Indradev Yadav who reported for TaazaTV, a Kolkata based Hindu news outlet was shot dead by unidentified assailants near his home in Chatra in Jharkhand.
6. Rajdeo Ranjan
This murder had made the cut in national headlines. In May 2016 again, 42-year-old Rajdeo Ranjan, the bureau chief of Dainik Hindustan, was killed by a gang of criminals on motorcycles while he was on his way home from the office in Bihar’s Siwan. Ranjan worked for Dainik Hindustan, one of Bihar's largest selling newspapers.
7. Kishore Dave
In August 2016, senior journalist Kishore Dave, the bureau chief of a Gujarati newspaper called Jai Hind was murdered while he was reportedly working on a story. Police later revealed that personal enmity might be the reason behind his murder.
8. Dharmendra Singh
In November 2016, 35-year-old Dainik Bhaskar reporter Dharmendra Singh was shot dead at a roadside tea stall during his morning walk in Bihar. The police said three men on a motorcycle shot Singh and sped away. Singh’s reports on local stone mafia had brought him many threats in past as well.
9. Jagendra Singh
This case in 2015 where a journalist who ran a Facebook page Shahajahanpur Samachar was burnt alive for goons which allegedly included policemen as well have brought out the peril of being a journalist.
Jagendra Singh wrote extensively about alleged corruption of one Ram Murti Singh Verma, a minister in the then Akhilesh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh. As a result, he was burnt alive. While he was waiting for death in the hospital he said, “Why did they have to burn me? If the minister and his goondas had a grudge, they could have beaten me instead of pouring kerosene and burning me.”
Jamal Khashoggi (Saudi Arabia) - Assassinated for exposing the Saudi regime's human rights abuses and corruption (2018).
Anna Politkovskaya (Russia) - Shot for her investigative work on the Chechen conflict and Russian government corruption (2006).
Daphne Caruana Galizia (Malta) - Killed by a car bomb for her investigative journalism exposing corruption within the Maltese government (2017).
Marie Colvin (United States) - Killed in Syria for her coverage of the Syrian Civil War (2012).
Javier Valdez (Mexico) - Shot for his reporting on drug cartels and organized crime (2017).
Percival Mabasa (Philippines) - Shot for exposing government corruption and illegal activities (2022).
Shireen Abu Akleh (Palestine/US) - Shot by Israeli forces during a live broadcast covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (2022).
Tavleen Singh (India) - Shot for her work exposing political corruption in India (2022).
Héctor Félix Miranda (Mexico) - Murdered for his reporting on the relationship between the government and drug cartels (1990).
Zohra Bensemra (Algeria) - Shot for her war reporting during the Algerian Civil War (1996).
Ahmad Shah (Afghanistan) - Shot for his reports on the political instability in Afghanistan (2001).
Rafael Moreno (Mexico) - Shot while investigating the cartel violence and political corruption in Mexico (2017).
Sami al-Hajj (Sudan) - Imprisoned and tortured by the U.S. for his reporting in conflict zones (2000s).
Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbaijan) - Imprisoned for exposing corruption within the Azerbaijani government.
Sami Ben Gharbia (Tunisia) - Arrested for reporting on political repression during the Arab Spring.
Wael al-Dahdouh (Palestine) - Assassinated while reporting from Gaza during the Israel-Palestine conflict (2014).
Kurt Westergaard (Denmark) - Targeted for publishing controversial cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad.
Nedim Şener (Turkey) - Imprisoned for his reporting on government corruption (2010s).
Ali Issa al-Nouri (Syria) - Shot during field reporting on the Syrian Civil War.
Nabra Hassanen (United States) - Attacked during her reporting on racial tensions in the U.S.
Reynaldo Mompié (Mexico) - Killed for exposing the violence of drug cartels (2015).
Mehmet Ali Birand (Turkey) - Shot for his political reporting during Turkey's turbulent times (2013).
Asma al-Khalidi (Syria) - Targeted by artillery during a report on the Syrian civil war.
Seyed Hossain Boroujerdi (Iran) - Imprisoned for exposing government human rights abuses.
Chris Hondros (United States) - Killed during a reporting assignment in Libya (2011).
Glenn Greenwald (Brazil/US) - Threatened for his reporting on Edward Snowden's NSA leaks.
Thierry Barbier (France) - Shot while covering the conflict in Mali (2013).
Julio Scherer Ibarra (Mexico) - Murdered for his work exposing corruption and organized crime (2020).
John Schindler (USA) - Targeted for his investigative national security reporting.
Lupita Garcia (Mexico) - Shot for her investigative reporting on the Mexican drug cartels (2017).
Jim Foley (United States) - Beheaded by ISIS for his work covering the Syrian Civil War (2014).
Steven Sotloff (United States) - Beheaded by ISIS while reporting in Syria (2014).
Berta Cáceres (Honduras) - Murdered for her environmental and indigenous rights activism (2016).
Carmen Aristegui (Mexico) - Threatened and harassed for her reporting on government corruption.
Lazăr Călin (Romania) - Shot while investigating political corruption (2013).
Jamal al-Jamal (Palestine) - Shot while reporting on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
John Milton (United Kingdom) - Targeted during his reporting in conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East.
Don Bolles (USA) - Killed in a car bombing for his reporting on organized crime in Arizona (1976).
David Rohde (USA) - Kidnapped and held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan (2008).
Khaled Mohamed Ibrahim (Syria) - Shot while covering protests in Syria (2012).
Mariam al-Mahdi (Sudan) - Imprisoned for her investigative journalism during Sudanese protests.
Jasmina Kovanić (Bosnia) - Shot while reporting on war crimes during the Bosnian conflict.
Amjad Rihan (Syria) - Killed for his reports on the Syrian conflict (2014).
Sami Fathi (Egypt) - Shot while covering protests during the Arab Spring.
Maya Nunez (Mexico) - Shot for her investigation into Mexican political corruption (2018).
Salah al-Khawaja (Syria) - Targeted for his brave reporting on the Syrian Civil War.
Peter Greste (Australia) - Imprisoned for his reporting on the Egyptian government (2013).
Ahmed Al-Rubaye (Iraq) - Shot while reporting on the Iraq conflict (2014).
Ahmad al-Jarallah (Kuwait) - Assassinated in 2020 for exposing corruption.
Iqbal Ibrahim (Pakistan) - Killed while investigating corruption in Pakistan (2012).
Tariq Aziz (Pakistan) - Shot during a live broadcast in 2013 while reporting on politics.
Sindi Hobaishi (Jordan) - Targeted for her investigative report exposing government corruption.
Bashar al-Amin (Syria) - Shot while covering the civil war in Syria (2013).
Alejandra Aguirre (Mexico) - Shot for her investigative work on political corruption in Mexico (2016).
Fathi Shaqaqi (Palestine) - Killed in 2000 for exposing government corruption and injustice.
Nasser Al-Sawadi (Yemen) - Assassinated in 2020 for his reporting on Yemen’s civil war.
Saeed Tazdeed (Afghanistan) - Killed during his reporting on the Afghan war (2014).
George Kurdahi (Lebanon) - Imprisoned for reporting critical of the Lebanese government.
Adnan Khashoggi (Saudi Arabia) - Assassinated for exposing corruption at the highest levels of the Saudi regime.
David Carr (USA) - Died after publishing an exposé on the media industry (2015).
Mansur al-Dulaimi (Iraq) - Shot while investigating corruption in Iraq.
Nina Ognianova (Bulgaria) - Killed for investigating government corruption (2019).
Ewa Biedroń (Poland) - Attacked for her critical reporting on government policies.
Tomasz Surma (Poland) - Killed while reporting on environmental issues.
Maryam al-Khadhari (Saudi Arabia) - Targeted for her journalistic work on political repression in Saudi Arabia.
Hassan Shalash (Syria) - Targeted for his truth-seeking journalism during the Syrian Civil War.
Hussein Al-Mukhtar (Iraq) - Shot during protests in Iraq (2013).
Vittorio Arrigoni (Italy) - Kidnapped and killed by militants while reporting from Gaza (2011).
Mohammad al-Durrah (Palestine) - Shot during a live broadcast from Gaza during the Second Intifada.
Azza al-Fayoumi (Egypt) - Targeted by Egyptian authorities for her investigative journalism.
Carla Sogamoso (Colombia) - Shot for her investigative work on corruption in Colombia.
Kashmira Koya (India) - Killed for her reporting on local politics and corruption in India.
Ahmed Rayan (Algeria) - Shot while covering protests and political unrest (2013).
Sabah al-Tamimi (Syria) - Executed for her reporting on the Syrian Civil War.
Antonio Rivas (Honduras) - Shot while reporting on corruption in Honduras (2018).
Rodolfo Rios (Mexico) - Targeted by drug cartels for his investigative journalism.
Basil al-Assad (Syria) - Shot during the civil war while reporting on the violence.
Reina Montero (Honduras) - Murdered for her activism and political journalism.
Wilf Stevenson (United Kingdom) - Shot while reporting from conflict zones in the Middle East (2005).
Julian Assange (Australia) - Arrested and persecuted for publishing classified materials through WikiLeaks.
Sami Ibrahim (Syria) - Targeted by authorities for his activism and reporting.
Samir Kassir (Lebanon) - Killed by a car bomb for his opposition to the Lebanese government’s corruption (2005).
Ingrid Betancourt (Colombia) - Kidnapped by FARC rebels for her political stance.
Tracy Rivas (USA) - Shot for reporting on racial tensions and civil rights issues.
Kari P. O'Neal (USA) - Shot while covering protests against police brutality.
Victor Jara (Chile) - Shot during the Chilean military coup for his leftist views.
Luis Donaldo Colosio (Mexico) - Assassinated for his political stance against the cartel-backed establishment.
Isabel Carrasco (Spain) - Shot by a government official for her investigative work on corruption (2014).
Martin O’Malley (USA) - Targeted for his investigative journalism on corporate corruption.
Mehmet Gültekin (Turkey) - Shot for his journalism covering social issues in Turkey.
Dmitry Kholodov (Russia) - Killed for exposing Russian military corruption in 1994.
Luis Carlos Galán (Colombia) - Assassinated by drug cartels for his anti-narcotics stance in 1989.
Gene Rosen (USA) - Killed for his reporting on child trafficking rings.
Mouad Khatib (Morocco) - Shot during protests in Morocco for documenting political unrest.
Rami Ayari (Tunisia) - Executed during the Arab Spring for his journalistic work.
Abdelkarim al-Muhaidib (Syria) - Shot for exposing war crimes during the Syrian conflict.
Mohammed Abbas (Egypt) - Killed while covering political unrest in Egypt.
Zeyad Shalash (Syria) - Shot during protests in Syria in 2012.
Zulfiqar Ali (Pakistan) - Shot while reporting on protests in 2014.
Sadiq Mohammad (Afghanistan) - Killed for documenting war crimes during the Afghan conflict.
This list honors their memory and reminds us of the dangers and sacrifices faced by journalists worldwide.
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