CPJ Reviews Definition of Journalist as Israel War in Gaza Records Highest Press Death Toll
The Committee to Protect Journalists (Committee to Protect Journalists) is facing growing scrutiny over how it defines journalists, as it reviews its database of media workers killed during the war in Gaza, amid the highest recorded journalist death toll in modern conflicts.
The organisation said it is conducting a full review after claims that some individuals previously listed as journalists were identified by Palestinian groups as combatants. CPJ stated that it excludes individuals if there is evidence they were engaged in combat or inciting imminent violence, and said its revised total of journalists and media workers killed since October 2023 stands at 209.
CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg said the organisation is working to ensure accuracy in its records and remove any individuals found to have taken part in hostilities.
However, the review has drawn criticism from journalists and commentators, including Palestinian writer Mohammed El-Kurd, who accused CPJ of narrowing its definition in a way that could exclude Palestinian and Lebanese journalists working for state-funded outlets while still recognising similar roles in other countries.
El-Kurd also alleged that CPJ’s internal decisions were influenced by external political pressure, claims CPJ has denied.
The debate comes amid reports that Israel has been responsible for a significant proportion of global journalist deaths in recent years, with CPJ previously noting record fatalities linked to the conflict in Gaza and limited accountability for such killings.
Independent research cited in public reporting has described the Gaza conflict as the deadliest modern war for journalists, with comparisons suggesting casualties exceed those in several major 20th-century conflicts combined.
CPJ has said its ongoing review is part of efforts to maintain accurate data and strengthen accountability standards during one of the deadliest periods for journalists worldwide.
