Press freedom: why you should be worried

Global press freedom is facing its greatest challenge in decades—not just in authoritarian countries, but in democracies too. Governments are using more subtle tactics to muzzle the media. What’s going on and why is it so worrying? 00:00 – Introduction: global press freedom is in decline 01:08 – How journalists are being harassed and silenced in India 04:00 – The decline of press freedom in democracies 06:53 – Press freedom in Malta: the murder of Daphne Galizia 08:16 – How governments use SLAPPs to intimidate journalists 11:25 – Hungary: how the government controls the news media 14:19 – How journalists are fighting back Read our interactive piece on press freedom: Sign up to our daily newsletter for the latest coverage: British privacy law now rivals libel law in gagging the press: China crushes Hong Kong’s independent news outlets: Hindu bigots openly urging Indians to murder Muslims: Vladimir Putin has brutally muzzled Russian media: Censorious governments are abusing “fake news” laws: How journalists can defend the free press: Press freedom under pressure: South Korea’s plan to fight fake news could hobble real journalism: Poland’s proposed media rules threaten press freedom: Hong Kong’s liberal media are under pressure: Even noxious ideas need airing—censorship only makes them stronger: Jimmy Lai’s arrest is a blow to press freedom in Hong Kong: Malta is sharply criticised by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption watchdog: The global slump in press freedom: