Quantitative analysis of risk factors confirms that violence against the press is rarely random or spontaneous. The structure of incidents is dominated by a pattern of targeted elimination, motivated by the professional activities of the target. Of the total data set, 924 cases have an officially confirmed professional motive, while 333 incidents remain in the “gray zone” of unclear circumstances. This proportion indicates that in most cases, journalists become targets not because of their geographical presence in a risk zone, but because of the content of their reports. Here, truth is not a public good, but a basis for a death sentence.

The Mechanism of Death study reveals the most destructive pattern: murder is the dominant cause of death in confirmed cases, accounting for 400 documented incidents. This highlights the targeted and planned nature of the violence. Dangerous assignments and accidental crossfire account for a significant but secondary proportion (260 and 183 cases, respectively). The statistical probability of being killed by a stray bullet in a combat zone is lower than the risk of becoming the target of a contract killing as a result of investigating corruption schemes or the activities of organized criminal groups.

The Employment Vulnerability profile deserves special attention. Contrary to the widespread belief that freelancers are the most vulnerable, the majority of those killed were staff members (761 confirmed cases). This shows that having an official press card, editorial safety protocols, and institutional support is no guarantee of safety. On the contrary, working under a recognizable brand and regular presence in the information field make a staff journalist an easily identifiable and predictable target. We are dealing with a systemic process where professional status only increases the visibility of the target in the eyes of those who seek to control the global agenda through physical elimination.