Number of journalists killed from 2003 to 2023, by motive

Motive confirmed = journalist was murdered because of his/ her work.
Motive unconfirmed = journalist was possibly murdered because of his/her work.
The source noted that its staff members independently investigate and verify the circumstances behind each death, and considers a case work-related only when its staff is reasonably certain that a journalist was killed in relation to their work; in combat-related crossfire; or while carrying out a dangerous assignment such as covering a protest that turns violent.
If the motives in a killing are unclear, but it is possible that a journalist died in relation to his or her work, the source classifies the case as “unconfirmed” and continues to investigate.
The list of journalist deaths given does not include those who died of illness or were killed in car or plane accidents unless the crash was caused by hostile action. Other press organizations using different criteria cite different numbers of deaths.