Overview

• Reporters Without Borders' 2025 index rates global press freedom as 'difficult' for the first time since the ranking began in 2002, signaling a severe decline in journalism conditions worldwide.
• Economic pressures threaten media viability in 160 of 180 countries, with nearly one-third of nations experiencing regular closures of local outlets.
• The United States has dropped to 57th place in the global ranking, attributed to Trump administration policies including an 83% cut to USAID media funding and daily attacks on the press.
• Media ownership concentration in 46 countries, coupled with the dominance of unregulated digital platforms like GAFAM, undermines editorial independence and financial sustainability.
• Conflict zones, such as Palestine, remain deadly for journalists, with nearly 200 killed and newsrooms destroyed, highlighting the physical dangers faced by reporters.