The number of journalist deaths worldwide increased by almost 50% in 2022 compared to the previous year

Yellow tape marks bullet holes in a tree and a portrait and flowers create a makeshift memorial at the site where Al Jazeera Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead May 19, 2022 in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Majdi Mohammed/AP

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Majdi Mohammed/AP

Yellow tape marks bullet holes in a tree and a portrait and flowers create a makeshift memorial at the site where Al Jazeera Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead May 19, 2022 in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Majdi Mohammed/AP

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual report, 67 journalists were killed in 2022, the highest number since 2018.

At least 41 journalists, or more than 60%, were killed in retaliation for their work. A motive for the other 26 is under investigation by the CPJ.

The total number of journalist deaths, almost 50% higher than in 2021, was fueled by coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as violence in Latin America.

More than half of the killings in 2022 occurred in just three countries — Ukraine (15), Mexico (13) and Haiti (7), the highest annual numbers the CPJ has ever recorded for those countries since it began reporting in 1992 data collection began.

Researchers have registered a total of 151 murders of journalists in Mexico since 1992. It has one of the highest totals in the world, along with Russia, Syria, the Philippines, Iraq, Colombia, Brazil, Algeria and Somalia.

“In a country riddled with corruption and organized crime, it’s unclear how many have been directly targeted for their work…Press officials in Mexico face a crisis that is extraordinary outside of war zones,” the CPJ said.

In Haiti, recent violence has been sparked by civil unrest and gang violence following the 2021 assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse. Since then, the country has not elected a leader.

Four journalists each were killed in Colombia, Brazil and Chile.