IMAGE: Manasvi Gupta

INTRODUCTION

On World Press Freedom Day, this report reflects on the state of media freedom globally, drawing on insights from Sadibou Marong, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Office at Reporters Without Borders. The 2025 World Press Freedom Index highlights widening disparities in press freedom across the world, with countries such as Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands leading, while China, North Korea, and Eritrea remain among the most restrictive. The report further underscores deteriorating working conditions for journalists in many regions, particularly in parts of Africa, alongside growing economic and political pressures that threaten media independence, plurality, and sustainability.

To explore these findings and their implications in greater detail, read the full report here: World Press Freedom Day Report