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: https://econ.st/3vytCKY Sign up to our daily newsletter for the latest coverage: https://econ.st/3x4vdJH 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