McNaughton to Address Cork Festival Amid Record Journalist Deaths
Pulitzer Prize-winning Antrim photojournalist Cathal McNaughton will deliver the keynote address at Doneraile Arts Fest this month, as the global community grapples with a devastating milestone: 129 journalists and photographers killed while doing their jobs in 2025 alone.
A Crisis of Press Freedom
Media and press freedom organisations have warned that 2025 marks the second consecutive year of record fatalities among media professionals. The Committee to Protect Journalists has revealed a stark statistic: two-in-every-three journalist deaths last year were linked to Israeli military action. That same devastating proportion applied in 2024.
Reporters Without Borders found that the overwhelming majority of media workers killed in the line of duty perished in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. The slaughter in Gaza continues to account for the largest share of media deaths worldwide, making it the most dangerous place on earth for journalists to practise their craft.
Latin America and the Global Threat
Beyond warzones, journalists face targeted killings by organised crime gangs. Mexico suffered its deadliest year for media killings in 2025, with nine journalists murdered as drug cartels increasingly target those who dare to report the truth. Mexico now ranks as the second most dangerous country for media professionals after Gaza. Latin America accounts for the largest number of journalist murders outside of active conflict zones.
The threats extend further still. RWB has warned that 503 journalists are currently detained worldwide, with China holding 121 media workers, the largest prison population of its kind. In Syria, the fate of dozens of journalists detained under the Bashar al-Assad regime remains unknown years after his fall.
Antrim Native on the World Stage
McNaughton, one of Ireland's foremost photojournalists, brings a deeply personal understanding of these dangers. The Antrim native has worked in some of the planet's most hazardous places, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Kashmir, the North of Ireland, England, Bangladesh, the United States, India and across Europe.
His remarkable body of work spans wars, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and cultural, political and environmental events. It is the focus of a special documentary, I Dream In Photos. He also speaks globally about creativity, mental health and the challenges of working in high-pressure environments. He is currently working on a unique portrait of Ireland entitled Island.
Doneraile Arts Fest
McNaughton's keynote address on June 27 is set to be the highlight of the four-day festival, held in the beautifully restored Doneraile Court ballroom. The festival runs from June 25-28 and is organised by Art For The Heart, a non-profit community arts organisation.
Festival director Mary St Leger said they were delighted to secure a presentation from McNaughton about his remarkable body of work.