Global press freedom registers lowest level in 25 years, says Reporters Without Borders
A new assessment released on World Press Freedom Day highlights a shift in conflict zones where journalists are increasingly targeted directly, with Gaza cited as a primary example of the deterioration.
On 3 May 2026, marking World Press Freedom Day, a report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) declared that global press freedom has deteriorated to its lowest level in 25 years. The assessment arrives as the United Nations observes the annual event, noting that this year presents a particularly dark moment for the profession.
The severity of the current situation has drawn comparisons from UNESCO, which previously characterised the decline as comparable to the instability seen during the two World Wars and the Cold War. This qualitative assessment underscores the magnitude of the regression in the protection of media outlets and the safety of practitioners across the globe.
The report identifies a significant shift in the nature of threats faced by the press. Over the past three years, journalists in conflict zones have increasingly become direct targets rather than mere witnesses to events. This change in dynamic suggests an escalation in the risks associated with covering active hostilities.
Nowhere has this targeting been more evident than in Gaza, which the report cites as a particularly stark example of the intensifying dangers. The situation in this region serves as a focal point for the broader trend of journalists becoming primary objects of attack in volatile environments.
The findings also reference Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which establishes freedom of expression as a fundamental human right. The report serves as a reminder that the erosion of press freedom represents a breach of these established international principles.
Further insights into the situation were provided by Nasser Abu Bakr, President of the Palestinian journalists syndicate. His comments accompany the RSF findings, adding context to the challenges faced by those reporting from the region.
As the report is published, the data points to a systemic failure in safeguarding the press, with the decline in freedom reaching levels not witnessed for a quarter of a century.
