In 2015, the organization added 98 names to its Death Watch "which since 1997 has tallied journalists deliberately targeted because of their profession – either because of their reporting or simply because they were journalists – and those who lost their lives while on assignment."

In 35 other cases, IPI "continues to investigate whether journalists who met with violent ends were targeted for their reporting," a statement said, adding, "that number reflects a failure by too many governments to fully investigate journalists’ deaths, allowing cases to wither and be forgotten, and giving murderers free rein to kill again."

"While this year's number is currently slightly below last year's count of 100 journalists killed, the final tally once more facts are known could very well equal or exceed 2012's tragic record of 133 deaths. Until all governments become serious about ending this cycle of violence, killers will continue to slaughter journalists with impunity and an already staggering toll will continue to grow," IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis said.

IPI noted that "far and away, the leading scourge of journalists in 2015 was violent extremist Islamic groups, with some 39 journalists believed to have been killed by Islamic militants" - 31 of them by Islamic State and its supporters.