Overview: A grim tally for 2025
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has released a sobering report for 2025: 128 journalists and media workers were killed across the globe. Among these losses, three professionals based in the Philippines were among the fatalities. The annual IFJ tally serves as a stark reminder of the perilous conditions in which many reporters operate as they pursue truth, transparency, and accountability.
Who were the fallen journalists from the Philippines?
According to the IFJ, two Filipino journalists have been publicly named among the year’s casualties: Juan “Johnny” Dayang and Erwin Labitad Segovia. A third Filipino colleague is listed in the report, though full biographical details have not been disclosed in every coverage update. The IFJ notes that risks confronting Philippine journalists span areas such as local governance, crime reporting, and investigative work in both rural and urban settings.
What the numbers say about global press safety
The 2025 IFJ data underscores that journalists and media workers continue to face extreme danger in the pursuit of information. The 128 fatalities represent a broad geographic spread, with a concentration in regions where reporting can challenge powerful interests, corruption, or organized crime. The IFJ highlights not only fatal violence but also cases of detentions, threats, and harassment aimed at silencing reporting on human rights, public health, and governance.
Key trends observed in 2025
- Fatal violence remains a leading risk for frontline reporters, photojournalists, and editors covering conflict zones or high-crime areas.
- Economic and political instability can intensify threats against journalists who investigate corruption or abuses of power.
- Despite global norms advocating safety for the press, accountability for attacks on journalists remains inconsistent in many countries.
Why the Philippines remains a focal point for press safety concerns
Beyond the broad international picture, the Philippine press faces unique and persistent challenges. Journalists in the country have long reported threats related to crime, political rivalries, and cases where reporting intersects with sensitive local issues. The IFJ’s acknowledgement of Filipino fatalities in 2025 reinforces calls from media groups for stronger protections, greater rule-of-law adherence, and effective investigations into attacks on journalists.
What this means for journalists and news organizations
For newsroom leaders, the 2025 figures are a prompt to review safety protocols, risk assessments, and reporting practices—especially for reporters working in high-threat environments. Newsrooms can strengthen training on field security, digital hygiene, and mental health support for staff confronting traumatic events. On the policy side, advocacy groups urge governments to uphold press freedom commitments, ensure prompt investigations, and provide safe channels for journalists to report abuse without fear of retaliation.
Moving forward: Protecting reporting in fragile environments
Efforts to safeguard journalists require collaboration among international bodies, national authorities, media houses, and civil society. Transparent investigations into killings, better protective gear for reporters in danger zones, and a robust legal framework for safeguarding press freedom are all essential. The IFJ’s annual tally is not just a statistic; it is a call to action for louder, safer, and more independent journalism around the world.
Bottom line
As 2025 closes, the IFJ’s report reminds us: even in democracies with strong media infrastructure, risks to journalists persist. The loss of three Filipino journalists among 128 worldwide emphasizes the universal stakes of a free press. Protecting reporters, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring transparent operational standards in media organizations remain urgent priorities for the future of journalism in the Philippines and beyond.
