On the occasion of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) warned about the worrying state of media freedom in the world and called on citizens to mobilize in defense of the right to information, the foundation of every democracy.
According to UNESCO’s report on global trends in freedom of expression and media development (2022-2025), freedom of expression has declined by 10 percent since 2012, which the IFJ considers alarming, noting that the scale of this decline is comparable to the most difficult periods of the 20th century, including the world wars and the Cold War.
The IFJ recorded 128 journalists killed in the line of duty during 2025, while nine journalists have already lost their lives this year. They especially condemn armed conflicts in which the label “press” no longer protects journalists, but makes them a target. In Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan, journalists are arrested, forced into exile or killed because of their work.
Outside of war zones, threats to journalists are taking new forms. In its latest global surveillance report, published on April 28, the IFJ warns of systemic and unprecedented surveillance of journalists, where fake messages and websites are combined with advanced state-level spyware, endangering the safety of journalists and the protection of their sources, without adequate legal control.
The organization also expresses concern about the development of artificial intelligence, which can threaten democracy through the spread of disinformation, identity theft, replacing journalists with automated tools without ethical standards, and using journalistic content without consent and compensation.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger stated that any attack on a media worker is an attempt to silence a story that should inform citizens.
– Our right to inform is also the right of the public to be informed. Citizens must demand the government’s responsibility and the protection of this right through laws that ensure the independence of the media, prohibit surveillance and regulate the use of artificial intelligence – said Bellanger.
On the occasion of May 3, the IFJ and partner organizations will gather in Paris to reaffirm their commitment to free and independent media, while the IFJ World Congress will be held from May 4 to 7, which will bring together hundreds of delegates from around the world to define the future of journalism and media freedom.
World Press Freedom Day has been celebrated every year on May 3, since 1993 when it was declared by the United Nations General Assembly. This day gathers media professionals who analyze the state of media freedom and consider ways to overcome numerous challenges, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of free and independent media and their basic principles.
The commemoration is related to the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration – a document on the principles of free media that was adopted by a group of African journalists in 1991 in Windhoek, Namibia, with the aim of protecting the fundamental rights of free and independent journalism. NOISE.
