Global press freedom has entered “difficult” territory for the first time, according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, with new data revealing that more than half the world’s countries are struggling to sustain independent journalism due to worsening economic conditions.
The annual report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), released this week to coincide with World Press Freedom Day, shows a record drop in the Index’s economic indicator – now the lowest of all five assessed categories – placing the viability of independent media at crisis point.
University of Wollongong journalism lecturer, Dr Benjamin Ball said the findings reflect a shift in the threat to press freedom, with economic pressure now surpassing physical violence as the most widespread danger.
“While violence and repression are still critical issues, the economics of freedom of speech is emerging as a key threat,” Dr Ball said.
“The organisations that traditionally delivered fact-checked, considered journalism are now struggling to survive.”
In 2025, the global press freedom score fell to 54.7 out of 100, driven largely by financial instability.
RSF found that in 160 of the 180 countries surveyed, media outlets now operate “with difficulty” or “not at all”, with nearly a third experiencing significant newsroom closures over the past year.
Source: Reporters Without Borders
Australia, which ranked 29th globally has remained relatively strong – but its media environment is not immune. RSF notes that media ownership concentration and digital platform dominance continue to undermine independence, especially in regional areas.
Source: Reporters Without Borders
The United States dropped to 57th place, with RSF citing “news deserts” and rising political hostility. More than 60 per cent of surveyed journalists in four U.S. states said they couldn’t earn a living wage in the industry.
Dr Ball points to the dominance of major tech companies as a key force destabilising traditional news media.
“The influence of the tech giants – Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft – is reshaping how we receive information,” Dr Ball said.
“Because so much news is filtered through these platforms, traditional outlets are losing advertising revenue and struggling to fund quality reporting.”
RSF also flagged editorial interference by media owners, with over half of surveyed countries reporting frequent influence over journalistic content.
“When survival depends on pleasing powers above, public interest journalism suffers,” Dr Ball said.
Globally, 42 countries – including Palestine, China and North Korea – are now classified as “very serious”, meaning the press is almost entirely absent. In Gaza, nearly 200 journalists have been killed and most newsrooms destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.
As the world marks World Press Freedom Day, RSF is calling on governments to protect journalists and fund media transparently.
RSF editorial director Anne Bocandé said economic independence is essential to safeguard democratic values.
“Guaranteeing freedom, independence and plurality in today’s media landscape requires stable and transparent financial conditions. Without economic independence, there can be no free press,” Ms Bocandé said.
World Press Freedom Day Infographic – Ivy Swibel