Challenges to Press Freedom: WAN-IFRA World Press Trends 2021–22
Our data highlights the universality and breadth of media freedom issues; with greater prevalence in developing countries
In this final chapter we determine the extent to which news publishers are contending with encroachments on media freedom and highlight some of the different ways in which this manifests itself.
Our survey also asked participants about various issues related to media freedom and freedom of expression. We asked this question at a critical juncture for our profession, given the erosion of media freedom that we are witnessing around the world; and the increasing difficulty faced by many journalists to do their job.
These trends have been evident for some time. Analysis by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) found that in 2021 the level of media freedom worldwide had deteriorated by 12% since they developed a global indicator for this measure back in 2013.
“Journalism, which is arguably the best vaccine against the virus of disinformation,” they wrote in the introduction to their 2021 World Press Freedom Index, “is totally blocked or seriously impeded in 73 countries and constrained in 59 others.”
Put another way, press freedom is identified…
