Press freedom at lowest level in 25 years amid growing authoritarian pressure

Key Points:

• The World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports the lowest global press freedom levels in 25 years, with over half of 180 countries rated as having "difficult" or "very serious" press freedom conditions.
• Press freedom has declined due to expanding restrictive laws, especially national security laws, political hostility, and challenging media business models, leading to increased criminalization of journalism in many democracies.
• The US fell to 64th place amid systematic attacks on the press by Donald Trump, while Russia uses anti-terrorism laws to suppress media, holding 48 journalists in prison; authoritarianism and economic pressures are major contributors to the decline.
• The report highlights the dangers journalists face in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan, and South Sudan, with over 220 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023, and notes the global impact of US funding cuts to international media outlets.
• Norway tops the index for the 10th year, Eritrea ranks last for the third year, and Syria shows the biggest improvement; meanwhile, major news organizations call on Israel to lift its ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza amid ongoing war coverage challenges.