Journalists face the toughest climate in 50 years.
A worldwide study reveals a sharp and concerning drop in the ability of journalists to report the news freely.
World—(Special Correspondent / Web Desk)— A new study from a group that supports democracy shows that freedom of the press is at its lowest point in half a century. The drop over the last five years has been especially sharp.
Nations like Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, and Myanmar, which already had very poor records, saw the most significant declines. Surprisingly, South Korea had the fourth-largest drop. The report points to a rise in government-led lawsuits against reporters and even police raids on their homes.
“The current state of democracy in the world is concerning,” said the head of the International IDEA group. The report found that more than half of all countries have gotten worse in key democratic areas since 2019.
The most alarming finding was the severe drop in press freedom worldwide. Experts called it the worst decline in 50 years, noting they have never seen such a sharp fall in a key sign of a healthy democracy.
This problem is truly global. Press freedoms worsened in 43 countries across Africa, Europe, and every other continent.
Researchers blame a “toxic mix” of problems. On one side, governments are being more heavy-handed and controlling, a trend that sometimes started during the pandemic. On the other side, the spread of false information online is a major issue. Sometimes, governments use the fight against false news as an excuse to silence real journalists.
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Another big worry is that local news outlets are disappearing. These small media groups are vital for supporting community debate and a strong democracy. This report covers up to 2024 and does not include recent global events. However, experts are watching new developments with great concern, noting that trends in major nations often spread around the world.
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