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
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British privacy law now rivals libel law in gagging the press: https://econ.st/3wbJ7Yv
China crushes Hong Kong’s independent news outlets: https://econ.st/3OTIZFw
Hindu bigots openly urging Indians to murder Muslims: https://econ.st/3vMdVPi
Vladimir Putin has brutally muzzled Russian media: https://econ.st/3MH1VW9
Censorious governments are abusing “fake news” laws: https://econ.st/3vRuedC
How journalists can defend the free press: https://econ.st/3y2d2Vu
Press freedom under pressure: https://econ.st/3OGxRLT
South Korea’s plan to fight fake news could hobble real journalism:
https://econ.st/3MD4KHK
Poland's proposed media rules threaten press freedom: https://econ.st/37TCVfj
Hong Kong’s liberal media are under pressure: https://econ.st/3OG6H7X
Even noxious ideas need airing—censorship only makes them stronger: https://econ.st/3OIWozR
Jimmy Lai’s arrest is a blow to press freedom in Hong Kong: https://econ.st/3KCrNRD
Malta is sharply criticised by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption watchdog:
https://econ.st/3vShG5t
The global slump in press freedom: https://econ.st/3xZHnE3