Democracies Under Threat: Safety of Journalists and Press Freedom in Decline Worldwide

Attacks on journalists and limits on press freedom are on the rise globally according to multiple reports released on World Press Freedom Day.
At least 67 journalists have been killed so far this year, and a record number have been imprisoned for their reporting, including an American journalist currently held in Russia.
Authoritarian regimes like North Korea, China, and Iran are among the worst offenders, while democracies like the US have also seen journalists targeted and legal protections threatened.
The landmark precedent protecting journalists in the US from frivolous lawsuits is at risk, and many countries have passed laws making it easier to curb press freedoms and free speech.
On World Press Freedom Day, the dire situation calls for action to protect independent journalism and the public's right to information.