The figure was announced at World Service Presents, a three-day series of events highlighting the courageous work of journalists around the world, and the state of media freedom globally

"I watch my back," says BBC Persian correspondent Jiyar Gol. When he enters a room now, he says he looks for an escape route. "I have a lot of security cameras in my house. I was warned it would be smart to change my daughter's school."

Journalists face crackdowns in countries including Russia, Afghanistan and Ethiopia The BBC has revealed more than 300 World Service journalists – around 15 per cent of its workforce – are working in exile.

The number of BBC World Service journalists working in exile is estimated to have nearly doubled, to 310, since 2020.The figures, released for the first time ahead of World Press Freedom Day, reflect press crackdowns in Russia,