Freedom of the press has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, according to the annual global ranking released by the NGO Reporters Without Borders. The organization warns that journalism is increasingly being criminalized worldwide.
The 2026 World Press Freedom Index presents a bleak picture, with three in four countries rated as problematic or worse. More than half of the world's countries now fall into the difficult or very serious categories, while satisfactory or good conditions are found in only a few dozen nations.
The group cited various factors for this worldwide decline in media freedom. These include the systematic attacks on the press by US President Donald Trump and actions in Saudi Arabia, where a journalist was executed in 2025.