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Deutsche Welle : Press freedom is declining globally

A report by the German foreign media institution, Deutsche Welle, confirmed the decline in press freedom worldwide due to a series of measures taken by the administration of US President Donald Trump against the press, which included the State Department canceling press subscriptions and reducing the role of the USAID agency, which supported independent media in countries that lack press freedom. The report noted the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, which shows the violations journalists are subjected to, in addition to the political, legal, economic and social frameworks within which they work. In 2024, the results showed a decline in press freedom globally, with only 8 countries, mostly in Northern Europe, being classified as having “good” press freedom. Although Scandinavian countries lead in this area, they are not without challenges either. "No country is immune to pressure on journalists, and we must always remain vigilant," Ina Pavsic, advocacy officer at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), told DW.

What threatens freedom of the press?

The Deutsche Welle report explained that the threats facing journalists are not limited to physical violence only. In the first half of 2024, 12% of attacks were physical, while a quarter were due to censorship, and a third were verbal attacks such as threats and intimidation. He pointed to the increase in online attacks, such as smear and disinformation campaigns, especially against female journalists, who are subjected to hate threats targeting them and their family members. In the United States, data showed that 2024 saw the third highest number of attacks on the press since 2017, reflecting the escalating challenges facing the media around the world.

Assassination of journalists

The report pointed out that journalists in conflict zones face great danger, as journalist deaths in 2024 witnessed a significant increase, with numbers rising steadily since 2021. He noted that last year, 2024, killings increased by 22%, compared to 2023. During its 15-month aggression on the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of 206 journalists, both male and female, the Israeli occupation arrested more than 20 journalists from Gaza, according to official sources. The report explained that the Israeli army was responsible for most of these deaths, and most of the dead were Palestinians.

Imprisonment of journalists

The data also showed an increase in the imprisonment of journalists since 2000. The Committee to Protect Journalists found that as of early December 2024, there were 361 journalists in prison, more than half of whom were in China, the occupied Palestinian territories, Myanmar, Belarus, and Russia, and most of them were accused of violating state laws.

America is hostile to the press

The protection of journalists around the world has deteriorated, and threats have increased, forcing them to practice self-censorship or avoid writing important reports that serve society.

Such effects have recently been observed in the United States, where US President Donald Trump is known for his continued hostility to traditional media. He has previously called the press “the enemy of the people,” and at a 2024 campaign rally, he referred to journalists and said he “wouldn’t mind much” if a would-be assassin had to shoot them to get to him, having survived two previous assassination attempts. The US president has taken legal action against journalists and media outlets, filing lawsuits against several media companies. These actions, along with preventing the Associated Press from using the name “Gulf of Mexico” because it refused to call it the “Gulf of America,” have caused news agencies to avoid covering certain topics for fear of retribution.