Global press freedom has reached a decadal low, with the Freedom of Expression Index falling from 0.68 in 2012 to 0.61 in 2024, marking a 10% decline over 12 years, according to UNESCO data.
The drop highlights the slow erosion of independent reporting, amid a rise in media self-censorship. Independent media remains a vital part of preserving democracy and holding power to account.
According to UNESCO’s latest report, World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, journalists are increasingly avoiding sensitive topics, a trend reflected in a 63% decline in perceived press independence.
The decline has not been uniform. Between 2012 and 2017, the index fell moderately, averaging a 0.96% decrease per year, before stabilising between 2017 and 2019.
A sharper decline followed from 2020 to 2022, with the index dropping by 1.27% annually, signalling renewed pressures on the media.
This acceleration continued into 2023 and 2024, with an annual fall of 1.30%, well above the long-term average.
Experts link the rise in self-censorship to harassment, legal pressures, and restrictive regulations, which prompt journalists to avoid controversial subjects.
The resulting climate limits investigative reporting and reduces public access to vital information.
Civic space beyond journalism has also been affected, with academic, cultural, and artistic freedoms declining by around 2.86% per year.
The report notes that the trend reflects a broader global challenge.
Historical comparisons suggest the current decline parallels extraordinary periods of instability, including times of major global conflict.
Governments and powerful actors have intensified efforts to control media narratives, reducing press independence by almost 48% over 12 years.
International monitoring bodies emphasise the urgency of reversing this trend. The 2021/2022 World Trends Report noted that 85% of the world’s population experienced a decline in press freedom.
The 2022/2025 edition warns that continued erosion of expression rights threatens not only journalism but also accountability, the rule of law, equality, and protection of human and environmental rights.
Solutions
UNESCO says that there is need for an urgent multi-stakeholder action to reverse the global press freedom crisis, with key measures that include strengthening independent judiciaries to prevent legal harassment.
While several media have been facing funding constraints, UNESCO also said that there should be key measures on media sustainability through funding models such as the International Fund for Public Interest Media. – IOW Data.
