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Berlin, Germany - August 2016: Colorful and interesting collection of european newspapers, periodicals, magazines in newsstand rack. Editorial credit: P Gregory / Shutterstock.com.

Media Freedom

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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 across many annual and special report 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.

 Free Them All: A Political Prisoners Initiative

Free Them All: A Political Prisoners Initiative

Free Them All: A Political Prisoners Initiative is a new Freedom House project intended to help free political prisoners and push back against the jailing of activists as a tool of repression. Located around the globe, the stories of these artists, journalists, and activists illustrate the significant pressures and harms that human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists face in reprisal for their work and why they need our support.

Learn More
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
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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:

 Founding members gather to launch the independent news website Telex in October 2020.

Case Study: How Hungary’s Independent News Outlets are Building New Revenue Models

Special Report

June 21, 2023

People attend 'Free People, Free Media' protest at the Main Square in Krakow, Poland on December 19, 2021

Reviving News Media in an Embattled Europe

Special Report

June 21, 2023

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

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:

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China wages war on ‘historical nihilism’ opens in new tab

August 8, 2022

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Play it loud: The return of Hanoi’s loudspeakers speaks volumes opens in new tab

August 7, 2022

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Russia Is Quietly Ramping Up Its Internet Censorship Machine opens in new tab

July 25, 2022

Featured Experts

Adrian Shahbaz Vice President, Research and Analysis

Adrian Shahbaz

Vice President, Research and Analysis

adrianshahbaz

Kian Vesteinsson Senior Research Analyst, Technology and Democracy

Kian Vesteinsson

Senior Research Analyst, Technology and Democracy

kianvest

 Mai Truong  Director, Operations and Inclusion

Mai Truong

Director, Operations and Inclusion

MaiT_Truong

News & Perspectives:

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CPJ, partners call on British PM to push for Jimmy Lai’s freedom as he marks 1,000 days in jail

Joint statement

September 25, 2023
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Turkey: International groups condemn fifth imprisonment order against journalist Barış Pehlivan

Joint statement

August 10, 2023

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NGOs call for protection of journalists in Cameroon ahead of country's UN human rights review

Joint statement

July 17, 2023
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Journalist and Human Rights Lawyer Viciously Attacked in Chechnya

Joint statement

July 7, 2023

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NEW REPORT: Independent Media Organizations Across the European Union Forge New Strategies to Defend Their Vital Democratic Role

Press release

June 21, 2023
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Guatemala: No press freedom, no democracy

Joint statement

May 17, 2023

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

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