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Hundreds of protesters with signs and flags in front of a capital building.
Berlin, Germany - August 2016: Colorful and interesting collection of european newspapers, periodicals, magazines in newsstand rack. Editorial credit: P Gregory / Shutterstock.com.

Media Freedom

The ability of journalists to report freely on matters of public interest is a crucial indicator of democracy. A free press can inform citizens of their leaders’ successes or failures, convey the people’s needs and desires to government bodies, and provide a platform for the open exchange of information and ideas. When media freedom is restricted, these vital functions break down, leading to poor decision-making and harmful outcomes for leaders and citizens alike.

Freedom House assesses the challenges for media and online freedom in its annual Freedom and the Media and Freedom on the Net reports. We support local efforts to defend freedom of expression and to promote the emergence of alternative media in countries where traditional media is restricted. And we assist embattled journalists, including those who investigate corruption and abuses of power.

A journalist covers the scene as several hundred people rally against television propaganda in front of state outlet TVP’s headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. Photo Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Freedom and the Media 2019: A Downward Spiral

Media freedom has been deteriorating around the world over the past decade. Even in some of the most influential democracies in the world, populist leaders have overseen concerted attempts to throttle the independence of the media sector.

Read More
Attacks on the Record Report Hero Photo

Attacks on the Record: The State of Global Press Freedom, 2017-2018

 Press freedom is facing new threats in major democracies as well as in repressive states, where authorities are focusing their efforts on social media and other online platforms after subduing the independence of major print and broadcast outlets.

Read More
media m moldova program image

Featured Program: Our Media-M Program in Moldova

Through collaboration with partner civil society organizations in the country, Freedom House aims to boost capacity in civil society to effectively monitor media and to improve the legal and regulatory environment for independent media. 

Learn More

Reports & Analysis:

A newspaper consumer reads a copy of China's Africa edition of its daily newspaper infront of a news stand in the Kenyan capital on December 14, 2012. Photo credit:TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images.

Beijing's Global Megaphone

Special Report

A journalist covers the scene as several hundred people rally against television propaganda in front of state outlet TVP’s headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. Photo Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Media Freedom: A Downward Spiral

Freedom and the Media

Attacks on the Record Report Hero Photo

Attacks on the Record

Special Report

Members of the opposition hold a press conference outside the Polish parliament after lawmakers blocked a budget proposal that included limits on access to free information and politicians' media access. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Pluralism Under Attack

Special Report

Cartoon by KAL showing a free press surrounded on all sides by authoritarian leaders

Press Freedom's Dark Horizon

Freedom of the Press

Cartoon by KAL shows journalists represented as chess pieces battling against russia and turkey

The Battle for the Dominant Message

Freedom of the Press

protester holds sign that says freedom is a right not a privilege hong kong china

Check out the China Media Bulletin

The monthly China Media Bulletin provides unique insight on censorship, media freedom, and internet freedom issues related to the People's Republic of China. 

Learn More

Freedom House in the Media:

bloomberg logo

Biggest Social Media Companies Are Fined by Turkey Under New Law opens in new tab

November 16, 2020

NPR logo

Turkey Passes Measure To Tighten Control On Social Media opens in new tab

July 29, 2020

The Atlantic logo

How China Is Planning to Win Back the World opens in new tab

May 29, 2020

News & Perspectives:

Protest rally against Lukashenko, 20 September 2020. Minsk, Belarus

Belarus: Freedom House Condemns Intensifying Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Lawyers

Press release

February 16, 2021

Protest in Lipetsk Russia January 2021

Russia: Freedom House Condemns Imprisonment of Navalny; Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters and Journalists

Press release

February 2, 2021

Hong Kong Apple Daily Founder Jimmy Lai

The Attacks on Hong Kong’s Media Just Keep Getting Worse

Perspectives

December 21, 2020

Freedom House

Joint Letter: Safety of Journalists Coalition Members Urge UN Action to Protect Journalists

Advocacy letter

December 10, 2020

Woman taking photo

Report: Digital Election Interference Widespread in Countries Across the Democratic Spectrum

Press release

December 7, 2020

Xi

Recent Wins and Defeats for Beijing’s Global Media Influence Campaign

Perspectives

November 20, 2020

Featured Experts

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Adrian Shahbaz

Director, Technology and Democracy

adrianshahbaz

Kian Vesteinsson Expert Photo

Kian Vesteinsson

Research Analyst

kianvest

Mai Truong

Research Director, Strategy and Management

MaiT_Truong

If you would like to interview a Freedom House expert on this topic, please email [email protected].

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