Global press freedom has declined to its lowest point in a quarter century, according to a report released Sunday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) to coincide with World Press Freedom Day, marked each year on May 3 by the United Nations.
The RSF index, published annually, tracks conditions for journalists and media organizations around the world. This year's edition signals a deterioration that the organization describes as the worst recorded in 25 years.
The findings echo warnings issued previously by UNESCO, which stated that the pace of decline in press freedom is comparable to that seen during some of the most turbulent periods of the twentieth century, including the two world wars and the Cold War.
Journalists increasingly targeted
Over the past three years, the report notes a shift in how press freedom is being undermined. Journalists have increasingly become direct targets rather than incidental casualties in broader conflicts or political crises. The trend points to a deliberate and systematic effort in multiple countries to silence independent reporting.
The pattern represents a significant escalation from earlier forms of media suppression, which more commonly involved legal pressure, economic coercion, or state control of editorial content.
A global concern
World Press Freedom Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1993 to raise awareness of the importance of free press and to remind governments of their obligations to respect and uphold freedom of expression. This year's observance comes amid what press freedom advocates describe as an especially grim landscape for the profession.
RSF's annual index evaluates countries across five indicators: political context, legal framework, economic environment, sociocultural context, and the safety of journalists. Declines across multiple categories in numerous countries have contributed to what the organization characterizes as a systemic global regression.
The report was cited by France 24 in its coverage of the day's observance, which drew renewed attention to the risks faced by reporters worldwide.
No specific countries were identified in the summary of the report reviewed for this article, though RSF's full index covers more than 180 nations and territories. The organization has historically flagged deteriorating conditions across regions including the Middle East, parts of Asia, Latin America, and, in recent years, certain European states.
Press freedom organizations use World Press Freedom Day as an occasion to call on governments to investigate killings and imprisonments of journalists and to repeal laws that criminalize reporting.
