Press Freedom Faces Unprecedented Assaults in 2025

Wed Dec 31 2025 10:29:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amidst rising violence and governmental hostility, journalists have encountered the deadliest conditions in years, raising alarms about the state of press freedom worldwide.

2025 is poised to become the deadliest year for journalists, with reports indicating a dramatic increase in assaults, particularly in the United States. Influential figures such as Tim Richardson and Jodie Ginsberg have highlighted the concerning trend of hostility against the media, linking it to government actions and societal perceptions. The need for accountability in journalist killings is more pressing than ever, with global data showing persistent threats to media professionals.

NEW YORK (AP) — By nearly any measure, 2025 has been a rough year for anyone concerned about freedom of the press.

It’s likely to be the deadliest year on record for journalists and media workers. The number of assaults on reporters in the U.S. nearly equals the last three years combined. The president of the United States berates many who ask him questions, calling one woman 'piggy.' And the ranks of those doing the job continues to thin.

It’s hard to think of a darker time for journalists. So say many, including Tim Richardson, program director for journalism and disinformation at PEN America. 'It’s safe to say this assault on the press over the past year has probably been the most aggressive that we’ve seen in modern times.'

Tracking killings and assaults against journalists

Worldwide, the 126 media industry people killed in 2025 by early December matched the number of deaths in all of 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and last year was a record-setter. Israel’s bombing of Gaza accounted for 85 of those deaths, 82 of them Palestinians.

Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated, 'It’s extremely concerning... the failure to obtain justice or get accountability for those killings represents a wider issue of impunity.' With an estimated 323 journalists imprisoned worldwide, the dangers these professionals face continue to rise.

In the U.S., there have been 170 reports of assaults on journalists this year, primarily at the hands of law enforcement during coverage of immigration enforcement efforts. Many incidents link directly to a hostile political climate, exacerbated by President Trump’s treatment of the media.

Despite the ongoing struggles, there are signals of hope through the emergence of independent local news organizations that strive to fill the gaps left by traditional outlets.

As Ginsberg emphasized, 'The public depends on independent reporting to understand and scrutinize the decisions made by those in power.' As circumstances evolve, the essential role of the press continues to be a critical part of democratic society.