The Guardian

Global press freedom suffers sharpest fall in 50 years, report finds

Dw.Com

Democracy falls in majority of countries worldwide  DW  09

The Daily Star

Freedom of the press at its lowest in 50 years: study

JURIST

Press freedom group urges Trump administration to drop proposed journalist visa restrictions

International Press Institute

Media freedom groups welcome Google fine and call on EU to break up the tech giants digital advertising monopoly  ipi.media

RSF meets with Gabon's President in Libreville and shares recommendations to promote press freedom

Human Rights Watch

We Pray to God by Torturing Journalists

International IDEA

The Global State of Democracy 2025: Democracy on the Move

About International IDEA

Ku Leuven

The Paragon case: Walking the fine line between press freedom and national security in Italy and the EU

Atlantic

The Difference Between TikTok and Free Expression

World Press Freedom Index 2025: over half the world's population in red zones

Metaculus

The Eastleigh Voice News

Global press freedom suffers sharpest decline in 50 years, report finds

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance found that press freedom worldwide declined to its lowest level in 50 years between 2019 and 2024, with 43 countries across all continents experiencing deterioration in media freedoms.</span

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance found that press freedom worldwide declined to its lowest level in 50 years between 2019 and 2024, with 43 countries across all continents experiencing deterioration in media freedoms.

Afghanistan, Burkina Faso and Myanmar posted the largest declines in press freedom, while South Korea ranked fourth due to increased defamation cases against journalists and raids on their residences by government forces.</span

Afghanistan, Burkina Faso and Myanmar posted the largest declines in press freedom, while South Korea ranked fourth due to increased defamation cases against journalists and raids on their residences by government forces.

More than half of the world's countries, totaling 94 nations, registered a decline in at least one key democracy indicator between 2019 and 2024, while only one-third of surveyed countries made democratic progress during this period.</span

More than half of the world's countries, totaling 94 nations, registered a decline in at least one key democracy indicator between 2019 and 2024, while only one-third of surveyed countries made democratic progress during this period.

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday called on the Trump administration to withdraw proposed visa changes that would limit foreign journalists' stays to 240 days for most reporters and 90 days for Chinese nationals.

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday called on the Trump administration to withdraw proposed visa changes that would limit foreign journalists' stays to 240 days for most reporters and 90 days for Chinese nationals.

The European Commission imposed a 2.95 billion euro fine on Google for anti-competitive practices in digital advertising, with press freedom advocates calling for the breakup of Google's advertising empire.

The European Commission imposed a 2.95 billion euro fine on Google for anti-competitive practices in digital advertising, with press freedom advocates calling for the breakup of Google's advertising empire.

In Yemen, warring parties have killed at least 45 journalists since 2014, with Human Rights Watch documenting systematic arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and seizures of media institutions by all conflict parties.

In Yemen, warring parties have killed at least 45 journalists since 2014, with Human Rights Watch documenting systematic arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and seizures of media institutions by all conflict parties.

The Guardian #3824

Dw.Com #

The Daily Star #

JURIST #

International Press Institute #

RSF #

ABS #

Human Rights Watch #

International IDEA #

Ku Leuven #

Atlantic #6154

Metaculus #

The Eastleigh Voice News #

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Trump administration to withdraw proposed visa changes that would limit foreign journalist stays to 240 days for most reporters and 90 days for Chinese nationals, replacing the current indefinite duration system.</span

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Trump administration to withdraw proposed visa changes that would limit foreign journalist stays to 240 days for most reporters and 90 days for Chinese nationals, replacing the current indefinite duration system.

The European Commission imposed a 2.95 billion euro fine on Google for anti-competitive practices in digital advertising, with press freedom advocates calling for the breakup of Google's advertising empire to redirect revenue to media publishers.</span

The European Commission imposed a 2.95 billion euro fine on Google for anti-competitive practices in digital advertising, with press freedom advocates calling for the breakup of Google's advertising empire to redirect revenue to media publishers.

In Yemen, warring parties have killed at least 45 journalists since 2014, with Human Rights Watch documenting systematic arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and seizures of media institutions by all conflict parties.</span

In Yemen, warring parties have killed at least 45 journalists since 2014, with Human Rights Watch documenting systematic arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and seizures of media institutions by all conflict parties.

Press freedom challenges stem from legitimate national security concerns and the need to combat actual disinformation that threatens public safety and democratic stability. Governments face the difficult task of balancing media freedoms with protecting citizens from false information that can incite violence or undermine social cohesion. Regulatory measures and media oversight represent necessary tools for maintaining order in an era of information warfare and foreign interference in domestic affairs.

Press freedom challenges stem from legitimate national security concerns and the need to combat actual disinformation that threatens public safety and democratic stability. Governments face the difficult task of balancing media freedoms with protecting citizens from false information that can incite violence or undermine social cohesion. Regulatory measures and media oversight represent necessary tools for maintaining order in an era of information warfare and foreign interference in domestic affairs.

Global Press Freedom Hits 50-Year Low as Democracy Declines

Media

Freedom of press

Freedom of speech & expression

World

The alarming decline in press freedom represents a direct assault on democracy itself, as authoritarian forces worldwide exploit disinformation as a pretext to silence independent journalism. Governments are systematically dismantling the free press through heavy-handed interventions, defamation lawsuits and media consolidation that leaves journalists vulnerable to state control. The toxic combination of pandemic-era restrictions and rising authoritarianism has created an unprecedented crisis requiring immediate international intervention to protect democratic institutions.

The alarming decline in press freedom represents a direct assault on democracy itself, as authoritarian forces worldwide exploit disinformation as a pretext to silence independent journalism. Governments are systematically dismantling the free press through heavy-handed interventions, defamation lawsuits and media consolidation that leaves journalists vulnerable to state control. The toxic combination of pandemic-era restrictions and rising authoritarianism has created an unprecedented crisis requiring immediate international intervention to protect democratic institutions.

Simona Granati/Corbis/Getty Images

Simona Granati/Corbis/Getty Images

Global Press Freedom Hits 50-Year Low as Democracy Declines

Global Press Freedom Hits 50-Year Low as Democracy Declines

The Spin

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Global Press Freedom Hits 50-Year Low as Democracy Declines

Global Press Freedom Hits 50-Year Low as Democracy Declines

The Spin

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters