Executive Summary

We assess that press freedom is declining worldwide and we have not identified any indicators that the downward slide will abate. The global state of press freedom reached a critical point in 2025. It marked its lowest score, according to the World Press Freedom Index 2025. Economic instability, monopolization of media ownership, political interference, and authoritarian repression all threaten editorial independence. Authoritarian countries have long suffered from a lack of free media. However, we also observe a trend in a similar direction in many major democracies. 

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