"It is time for action in the face of unprecedented threats to journalists who are targeted not only to restrict the free flow of information, but increasingly as leverage to secure huge ransoms and political concessions through sheer violence," IFJ President Jim Boumelha said, in a news release.
War coverage could be degraded as media become reluctant to send correspondents to conflict zones due to security issues, Boumelha added.
On Wednesday the IFL issued a list of 118 journalists killed while working in conflict zones in 2014. An additional 17 were victims of road accidents and natural disasters.
According to the list the Asia Pacific region claimed 35 correspondents, making it the most dangerous area. The Middle East saw 31 deaths.
Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world for journalists, states the report, with 14 killed. Syria recorded 12 deaths. Nine reporters were killed in Afghanistan and an additional nine in Palestine. Eight journalists were killed in Iraq and eight more in Ukraine.
The IFJ is the largest trade union of journalists in the world. Founded in 1926, the IFJ's mission is to defend freedom of the press and the rights of journalists. Currently the organization numbers more than 600,000 members in over 100 countries.
