The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) final 2025 list records 128 journalists and media workers killed, including 10 women. This is not “part of the job”. It is a warning to every newsroom, commissioning editor and organisation that sends people into harm’s way.
We fully support the IFJ’s work. Publishing names and numbers is not about shock. It is about accountability, remembrance and change.
And it is also a practical moment to ask the questions that matter before your next assignment:
- Are we reducing risk properly before deployment?
- If the worst happens, will our people and their families be supported in real terms?
- Can we show, clearly, that we met our duty of care?
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For individuals, freelancers and organisations sending teams into higher-risk places.
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What you’ll learn in this guide
- What the IFJ 2025 list tells us about risk patterns
- Why impunity changes the threat landscape
- Duty of care – what it means in practice
- Why standard travel insurance often fails in conflict zones and civil unrest
- What specialist cover is designed to do in higher-risk locations
- A simple pre-deployment plan you can use
- FAQs – war, civil unrest, FCDO advice, freelancers and fixers
- Next step – get a quote
IFJ 2025: what the 128 deaths tell us about risk patterns for journalists
The IFJ report is clear: 2025 was a deadly year for journalists and media workers. The list spans conflict zones, political violence, organised crime and targeted killings. It includes people working for major outlets, people working locally and people working as freelancers or in support roles. Source: IFJ
The details matter because they reveal patterns that should shape how you plan assignments:
- Conflict environments remain the most acute risk – the IFJ highlights Gaza as the deadliest context recorded for 2025, with a very high number of deaths recorded in relation to the war. (See the IFJ report for the full breakdown.)
- Risk is not limited to “the front line” – killings happen in cities, on roads, at checkpoints and in places where journalists are identifiable and exposed.
- Local teams often face the highest danger – local journalists, fixers and media workers are frequently operating under sustained pressure and visibility long after an international crew has left.
- Technology is changing threat patterns – the IFJ flags concerns including drone-related targeting in Ukraine, which alters how “routine travel” looks in practice.
For newsroom directors and NGOs, this should change the framing. The question is not “is it risky?” The question is “what are we doing to reduce predictable harm, and what support is in place when prevention fails?”
Reality check: If your plan depends on luck, silence or “keeping your head down”, it is not a plan.
Why impunity increases risk for media workers, freelancers and local teams
The IFJ places this list in the context of impunity. That matters because impunity turns violence into a repeatable tactic. If attackers expect no consequences, intimidation becomes routine and targeted harm becomes easier to justify, fund and repeat.
This changes how you should manage risk:
- You cannot assume the threat is random. In high-impunity environments, visibility itself becomes a risk factor.
- You cannot assume safe passage is stable. Checkpoints, permits, “local rules” and shifting power can change fast.
- You cannot assume time reduces risk. For local teams, risk may increase after publication.
For freelancers, impunity is especially brutal. You can be exposed, under-resourced and pressured to deliver. For NGOs, it matters because comms teams are now doing field storytelling work that can trigger the same threats as journalism.
The practical response is not fear. It is structure: clear go or no-go thresholds, credible emergency plans and insurance that matches reality.
Duty of care for newsrooms and NGOs: what it means in practice
Duty of care is often spoken about like a policy document. In real life it is a set of decisions that change outcomes.
If you commission or deploy people, your duty of care includes:
- Risk assessment that reflects the actual assignment, not a generic template
- Training and preparation appropriate to the environment
- Equipment and comms that works under stress
- Medical planning that assumes limited local capability
- Clear emergency pathways including who makes decisions and who authorises costs
- Appropriate insurance for the work, location and level of hazard
We have written about this directly in our blog post: The Duty of Care Crisis – why standard travel insurance exposes media organisations to catastrophic liability. If you are a newsroom director, this is the article to share internally.
Here is the part many teams miss: duty of care does not stop at payroll. If you rely on freelancers, fixers or local partners to deliver the work, your moral responsibility is obvious and your legal exposure may be real too. Even where the legal picture is complex, the reputational damage from getting this wrong is immediate and lasting.
That is why a “minimum standard” approach helps:
- Do not commission work without a clear safety brief and stop conditions
- Do not rely on standard travel insurance as your hostile environment answer
- Do not treat local teams as disposable infrastructure
If that last line feels uncomfortable, good. It is meant to. The industry has a historic blind spot here, and the IFJ list keeps reminding us what that costs.
Why standard travel insurance often fails in conflict zones and civil unrest
Standard travel insurance is built for holidays and routine business trips. Even “business travel” policies often assume predictable risks and stable access to healthcare.
Once you move into hostile environments, gaps show up fast:
1) War, civil unrest and terrorism exclusions
Many mainstream policies exclude claims linked to war, civil unrest and terrorism. Those terms are often broadly defined, and the practical effect is simple: you may be paying for cover that disappears when you need it most.
2) “Known events” and changing conditions
In higher-risk areas, conditions can shift within hours. Some policies restrict cover where an event is “known”, where warnings exist or where the risk is considered foreseeable. You do not want to discover that interpretation after an injury or evacuation need.
3) Work activity exclusions
Reporting, filming and fieldwork can be classed as hazardous activities, especially in demonstrations, conflict settings or where protective equipment is used. This can create disputes at the moment you most need clarity.
4) Emergency response limitations
Getting someone treated in a complex environment is not the same as getting them treated in a major European city. Trauma care capability, transport, permissions and cost guarantees all matter. A policy that looks fine on paper can fail operationally.
5) FCDO travel advice can affect validity
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is explicit that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice. See: gov.uk – About FCDO travel advice.
None of this means “do not travel”. It means: do not pretend that standard travel insurance is your hostile environment plan.
Quick test: If you cannot explain your key exclusions in one minute, you do not have clarity. You have hope.
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What specialist cover is designed to do in higher-risk locations
At insuranceforgroup.com we provide specialist personal accident and related cover for individuals and organisations operating in higher-risk roles and locations. Our aim is simple: if something goes wrong, you have protection and support that matches the environment, not a holiday template.
Depending on the scheme and options selected, cover may include:
- Accidental death and disablement
- Sickness and accident medical expenses
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Support that is designed for higher-risk travel and work contexts
You can explore policy differences here: Compare policies.
If you are planning work in a hostile environment, you also need to know what to do in an emergency, not just what is covered. That is why we keep this page plain and practical: Claims and emergencies.
And because people need documents quickly, especially when travelling, we host key documents here: Downloads.
About fixers and local teams
The industry still under-protects fixers and local media teams. They are essential, they face intense risk and they often carry it for longer. We wrote about this in detail here: Who’s covering the fixers? Why short-term insurance for local media teams is still broken.
If you are a newsroom director or NGO lead, ask yourself one hard question: are we creating “risk transfer” to the people with the least power? If the honest answer is yes, your duty of care plan needs work.
A note on Kidnap and Ransom cover
Kidnap and Ransom (K&R) is usually a separate specialist product. It can be complex, time-consuming to arrange and expensive. If you believe K&R risk is realistic for your assignment, treat it as a separate workstream and plan it early.
A simple pre-deployment plan you can use for your next assignment
The IFJ list should not only change how we mourn. It should change how we plan. Here is a straightforward plan you can use whether you are commissioning a freelancer, deploying a staff team or sending NGO comms staff into the field.
Step 1: Define the mission, not the dream
Risk climbs when teams feel they must “push through” to justify the trip. So define success in practical terms:
- What are we trying to achieve?
- What would make us stop?
- What would make us change plan?
- Who has authority to pull the plug?
Step 2: Map threats like an adult
List likely threats, not just dramatic ones. For example:
- Detention or harassment at checkpoints
- Drone or airstrike risk
- Civil unrest that moves quickly
- Road accidents and limited trauma care
- Digital threats and device seizure
- Targeting after publication, especially for locals
Then assign mitigations: routes, comms, local support, safe accommodation, medical pathway and a clear extraction plan.
Step 3: Plan for the local team first
If you only plan around the visiting team, you are missing the most exposed people. Your minimum standard should include:
- Clear contracting, pay and scope
- Clear safety boundaries (what they will not be asked to do)
- Clear emergency support, including who can authorise costs
- Insurance parity where possible
If you cannot offer parity, do not pretend you can. Be honest, reduce scope or rethink the assignment.
Step 4: Make sure your insurance matches the assignment
This is where many teams fail, especially on short-notice work. Confirm:
- Is the location inside scope?
- Are hostile risks included or excluded?
- Are medical expenses and evacuation included?
- Is the person covered for the work they will actually do?
- Does the policy cover local hires and freelancers if you need it to?
If you want a quick comparison view, start here: Compare policies.
Step 5: Build an emergency pathway that works on a bad day
A real emergency plan includes:
- Who to call first and second
- What information you will share
- What happens if comms drop
- Where credible care is likely to be
- How you move someone if roads close or borders tighten
Keep your emergency information where people can find it under stress. This page is designed for that moment: Claims and emergencies.
Step 6: Make it usable in the field
If documents are buried in email threads, they will not be found when needed. Store policy details and emergency contacts in a place teams can access quickly, including on mobile. You can also see our app option here: App.
If you only do one thing this week: run a 30-minute duty of care and cover check before your next assignment.
Get a quote Not sure? Contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.
FAQs: war, civil unrest, FCDO advice, freelancers and fixers
Does standard travel insurance cover journalists in war zones?
Often not. Many mainstream policies exclude war, terrorism and civil unrest. Even when cover exists, it may not match the practical realities of medical access and evacuation. If you are commissioning or travelling for higher-risk work, you need clarity on inclusions, exclusions and operational support.
What if we travel when the FCDO advises against it?
The FCDO states that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice. Read the guidance here: gov.uk – About FCDO travel advice. Do not assume you are covered. Check wording, get clarity and plan accordingly.
Can we cover freelancers, local producers and fixers?
In many cases, yes, but it needs planning. Short-notice work is where gaps appear. If you rely on local teams, treat their protection as essential, not optional. For deeper context, read: Who’s covering the fixers?.
What should we do first if someone is injured or becomes seriously ill?
Use your emergency pathway immediately. Do not wait for admin clarity. If your cover includes emergency support, call as soon as possible so treatment and payment pathways can be arranged. Keep this page accessible for your team: Claims and emergencies.
Where can we find policy documents quickly?
Keep them in one place and share them with everyone travelling. You can access our key documents here: Downloads.
Is this just a media problem?
No. NGOs, researchers and comms teams often face similar risks when documenting conflict, protests or human rights abuses. If you send people into environments where violence, harassment or detention are plausible, you need the same discipline: prevention, planning and proper support.
Next step: get a quote
The IFJ list is a hard read, and it should be. It is also a prompt for action. If you commission, deploy or travel for higher-risk work, do a quick cover and duty of care check now, not later.
Get a quote
For newsroom teams, freelancers and organisations working in higher-risk locations.
Want a quick sanity-check first? Tell us where you’re going, what the work is and who is travelling. We’ll tell you what looks risky and what can usually be covered. Contact us
References and further reading
Last updated: 1 February 2026
- IFJ – Final 2025 list of journalists and media workers killed: IFJ article
- UK government guidance – FCDO travel advice and insurance: gov.uk guidance
- Our related reading: Duty of Care Crisis and Who’s covering the fixers?
