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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

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.

 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.

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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:

Coda Story logo

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

August 8, 2022

Radio Free Asia logo

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

August 7, 2022

WIRED logo

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

July 25, 2022

Featured Experts

Adrian Shahbaz Expert Photo

Adrian Shahbaz

Vice President, Research and Analysis

adrianshahbaz

Kian Vesteinsson Expert Photo

Kian Vesteinsson

Senior Research Analyst, Technology and Democracy

kianvest

Mai Truong

Director, Operations and Inclusion

MaiT_Truong

News & Perspectives:

soccer stadium

An ugly scene for the beautiful game

Perspectives

November 21, 2022

Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica demonstrate against the government of President Daniel Ortega in 2021. (Image Credit: EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Nicaraguans Risk Losing Their Last Havens as Regime Targets Their Churches

Perspectives

August 22, 2022
Freedom House

28 Civil society organizations condemn the continued blocking of Al-Manassa’s website and call on the Egyptian authorities to lift the blocking of dozens of news websites

Joint statement

August 1, 2022

Indian farmers protest 2020

Freedom House Welcomes Twitter’s Legal Challenge to Indian Censorship

Press release

July 13, 2022

Shanghai has experienced harsh lockdowns related to China's Zero COVID-19 initiative

China’s Censors Aim to Contain Dissent During Harsh COVID-19 Lockdowns | Opinion

Perspectives

May 19, 2022

Flag of the Philippines

Philippines: Marcos Administration Must Demonstrate Commitment to Voters, Enact Prodemocracy Reforms

Press release

May 10, 2022

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

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