By External Source
May 2 2025 (IPS-Partners)

 
Freedom of the press is facing growing threats across the world.

Authoritarian regimes still imprison, silence, and kill journalists.

But today, elected governments are doing the same.

In 2024, over 550 journalists were imprisoned worldwide. 124 of them in China alone.

Since October 2023, at least 155 journalists have been killed in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel.

Many were clearly identifiable as journalists – and targeted.

Sudan has become a death trap for reporters caught in civil war.

In Pakistan, Mexico and Bangladesh journalists were assassinated for their work.

Independent media face financial and political attacks.

This year, the U.S. gutted funding for Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Free Asia.

Autocratic leaders applauded.

Meanwhile, trust in traditional media is collapsing.

In the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, China scored 75% trust in media. The UK scored 36%.

Yet China ranks 172nd out of 180 on the Press Freedom Index.

AI is adding new risks: Amplifying disinformation, censorship, and surveillance.

Recent studies show 51% of AI-generated news responses have major factual issues.

Misinformation spreads faster and easier than ever.

UNESCO warns that AI, without safeguards, could crush free expression.

This year, World Press Freedom Day focuses on “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of
Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”

AI offers powerful new tools for journalism – but without ethical safeguards, it threatens press freedom itself.

And without journalism, democracy stands on shifting sand.

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