Press Freedom Hits Lowest Level in 25 Years

Press freedom around the world has reached its lowest level in a quarter of a century, according to the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The average score for the 180 countries assessed was the lowest in the index’s 25-year history. For the first time, more than half of all countries were placed in the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.

Only seven mostly Nordic countries are ranked with 'good' press freedom, while less than 1% of the global population now lives in a country where press freedom is categorized as 'good'. The decline is attributed to authoritarian pressure, restrictive legal arsenals used by governments, and political hostility toward journalists. RSF noted that journalism was being increasingly criminalized worldwide.

The United States dropped seven places to 64th due to what RSF described as a 'systematic policy' of attacks on the press and journalists under President Donald Trump’s administration. The report also highlighted drastic cuts to funding for U.S. international broadcasting, which had global repercussions, leading to the closure or significant downsizing of organizations like Voice of America.

In other regions, Russia was noted as holding 48 journalists behind bars, using laws designed to combat terrorism and extremism to restrict press freedom. The report also cited Israel’s attacks on journalists in Gaza, with more than 220 journalists killed since October 2023. RSF called for effective measures to protect journalists and end the criminalization of journalism.