While acts of violence against journalists represent the most visible aspect of press freedom violations, there are numerous other indicators for assessing the conditions in which the profession is practised in countries around the world: from economic pressures to political ones, not to mention threats. Taking all factors into account, according to the latest report by the non-governmental organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the global situation has, for the first time, become "difficult" as a whole.

Economic pressure: a factor too often underestimated

The document focuses primarily on the financial dimension: "At this stage we are witnessing alarming setbacks in numerous regions of the world," the report reads, "and the factor of economic pressure, often underestimated, is profoundly weakening media outlets. This is due to ownership concentration, the influence exerted by advertisers and funders, and the absence of or restrictions on public support. Based on the data measured to compile the World Press Freedom Index, we are forced to acknowledge that media outlets today must choose between their independence and their economic survival".

In 160 of the 180 countries analysed by RSF, news organisations are unable to achieve financial stability. And in particular, closures are regularly recorded in one third of those nations: from the United States to Argentina and Tunisia. Unsurprisingly, the situation appears disastrous in Palestine. Due to the blockade on the Gaza Strip and the difficulties of accessing even the West Bank, practising journalism in the occupied territories is extremely complicated. Not to mention that many newsrooms have been destroyed and more than 200 journalists have been killed.

Another country where working conditions for reporters are extremely difficult is Haiti, where political instability and violence are also pushing the media economy into a state of chaos. In 34 states, media closures have been widespread and regular: the list includes Nicaragua, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan. But financial difficulties are also found in more affluent countries: from European nations to South Africa and New Zealand.

"Financially fragile media are sucked into the race for audiences"

"Guaranteeing a pluralistic, free and independent information space," commented Anne Bocandé, editorial director of Reporters Without Borders, "requires stable and transparent financial conditions. Without economic independence, there is no free press. When media outlets are rendered financially fragile, they are sucked into the race for audiences, at the expense of quality, and can fall prey to oligarchs and public decision-makers who find it convenient to exploit them."

A number of local situations are weighing heavily. In the first months of Donald Trump's second term, funding was cut for the USAGM (the United States Agency for Global Media), which includes outlets such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Moreover, increasingly within the United States (57th in the ranking), 60 per cent of those surveyed by RSF say it is "difficult to make a living from journalism".

The risks of news channelled through social media in the hands of an oligarchy

But what is also alarming the non-governmental organisation is the dominance of internet giants: Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. This represents a serious threat to media pluralism. Yet that is not the only risk of shifting news distribution from traditional journalistic outlets to the platforms of the five American giants: "Their platforms, largely unregulated, capture a growing share of advertising revenues that should normally support journalism. Total advertising spending on social networks amounted to 247.3 billion dollars in 2024, up 14 per cent compared to 2023. Furthermore, not content with undermining the economic model of media outlets, these platforms also contribute to the proliferation of manipulated or false content, amplifying the phenomenon of disinformation."

Lack of economic stability, growing pressure from various actors, the rising dominance of the conglomerates that control social networks (in addition to the long-standing problems of persecution and intimidation): all of this means that the overall results of the RSF ranking are considered "alarming" due to the "global deterioration of press freedom worldwide. The average score across all countries assessed falls below 55 for the first time — the threshold that indicates a difficult situation." Top positions are dominated by northern European nations, with Norway, Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Ireland. These are the only countries coloured green (indicating a positive assessment).

Italy drops from 46th to 49th place, between Belize and Mauritania

The United Kingdom is 20th, followed by Canada, Austria and Spain. France is 25th, Slovenia 33rd. Italy loses three places compared to the previous year, dropping from 46th to 49th: the country performs worse than North Macedonia, the Dominican Republic, Samoa, Seychelles, Tonga and Belize. And it narrowly precedes Mauritania, Mauritius, Ghana, Panama and Liberia. A disappointing and troubling result.