Shaping A Future At Peace
“Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.’- Walter Cronkite. Globally, there is a retreat of press freedom. Journalists continue to be imprisoned and harassed and freedom of speech is more scrutinized. The policing of press freedom is problematic and speaks to a deeper issue. A free press is one of safeguards of a strong and engaging democracy. Wherever the rights of the press are curtailed the lives of the citizenry suffer. The 2026 index indicates that press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years globally, with many countries facing increased censorship and economic challenges. The World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), assesses press freedom in 180 countries and territories. It defines press freedom as journalists’ ability to report independently without political, economic, legal, or social interference and threats to their safety. The Index evaluates five key indicators: political context, legal fra...