2025 marked one of the deadliest years on record for journalists worldwide, with 126 media workers killed by early December — matching the full-year total for 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
In the United States, journalists faced a sharp rise in violence, recording 170 assaults — nearly as many as the previous three years combined — with 160 perpetrated by law enforcement, per the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. The year also saw escalating attacks on the press from the Trump administration.
Many deaths occurred in conflict zones, including Gaza (linked to Israeli military actions), Sudan, Ukraine, Mexico, and the Philippines. CPJ data highlighted ongoing impunity, with increases in killings in several regions.
Domestically, assaults often took place during coverage of protests against the Trump administration's immigration and deportation policies. No U.S. journalists were killed, but the surge underscored heightened risks on American soil.
The Trump administration intensified restrictions on media access and operations, including limiting the Associated Press's coverage after it declined to rename the Gulf of Mexico, defunding public broadcasting, and other measures described by PEN America's Tim Richardson as "probably the most aggressive" assault on the press in modern times. Critics framed these as efforts to intimidate and punish journalists.
Despite the challenges, the AP article noted cautious optimism, suggesting public pressure could counter divisive forces and support press freedom.