When Mick Deane was killed in Egypt on Wednesday, he became the 1,000th journalist documented by CPJ as having died in direct relation to his work. The photos above, a sampling of those who have died over the past 21 years, serve as a powerful reminder of the cost of critical, independent journalism.
These reporters, photographers, producers, and editors are from all over the world. Some died in the crossfire of combat or civil unrest, but most were targeted for murder. Their deaths are tragic, but their lives spent confronting the powerful and taking unpopular positions are an inspiration. In 1992, CPJ began keeping detailed accounts of journalist deaths, which are preserved in our website database.
Over time, about one journalist is killed every week, our research shows. In addition to the 1,000 deaths we have confirmed as work-related, CPJ has documented the deaths of hundreds of other journalists who were killed in unclear circumstances. CPJ continues to investigate those deaths.