The Alarming Decline of Global Democracy

UNESCO’s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Global report 2022/2025, Journalism: shaping a world at peace, documents a historic 10% decline in freedom of expression globally between 2012 and 2024. This erosion of fundamental rights is not isolated; it’s part of a broader pattern of democratic backsliding.

The V-Dem Institute’s Democracy Report 2025: 25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped? reveals that almost three out of four people in the world now live under autocratic rule. This represents a dramatic shift in the global political landscape, with profound implications for those who hold power accountable – journalists.

While the report, based on data through December 2024, doesn’t currently list the United States on its watchlist, it issues a stark warning: “The scale of what is happening in the US is unprecedented and prompts a closer look at what seems to be the fastest evolving episode of autocratization the USA has been through in modern history.” This observation underscores that no nation is immune to this global trend.

The ‘Dictator’s Playbook’ and its Impact on Journalism

As autocratic tendencies rise, journalists are increasingly facing pressure, intimidation, and outright attacks. But censorship in the 21st century rarely resembles the overt bans of the past. Instead, it manifests in more subtle, yet equally damaging, ways: revoked credentials, restricted access, visa complications, and the weaponization of legal frameworks.

At the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Trust Conference 2025 in London, legal experts from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Bloomberg outlined the sophisticated tactics being employed to silence critical reporting. These tactics are not random; they represent a deliberate strategy – a “Dictator’s Playbook” – designed to undermine journalistic independence.

“They’re growing exponentially, they’re thoughtful, well funded, and they come in every form and from every dimension: we’re seeing physical, digital, legal attacks,” noted Karen Kaiser, Associate General Counsel for the Associated Press. Katharine Larsen, Deputy General Counsel for Reuters, added, “The tactics against journalists and against the press are constantly changing, becoming so much more sophisticated and complex and nuanced which makes them harder to spot and harder to tackle and requires us as lawyers to equip ourselves better.”

These threats are systemic and interconnected. They rarely occur in isolation, but rather as part of a coordinated effort to control the narrative and suppress dissent. Defending public interest media now requires not only journalistic courage but also robust legal preparedness.

Navigating the New Landscape: A Checklist for Newsrooms

So, what can newsrooms do to protect their journalists and continue to deliver vital public interest reporting in this increasingly hostile environment? Here’s a practical checklist, drawing on advice from legal experts:

Legal and Strategic

• Challenge retaliation early and publicly to establish constitutional principles before patterns normalize.
• Coordinate across outlets (via press freedom groups) when access or credentialing rules change.
• Track non-media laws (financial, market, national security) being used against journalists.

Editorial and Policy

• Document public-interest checklists rigorously, especially in privacy-heavy jurisdictions.
• Prepare for cross-jurisdictional takedown risks before publication.
• Budget for litigation as a core operational cost, not an exception.

Risk Assessment

Shift from country-based to person-based risk assessments, considering:

• Nationalities
• Languages
• Reporting history
• Transit routes
• Maintain comprehensive plans covering legal, digital, physical, and communications risks.

Before Reporting

☐ Assess access risks
Could credentials, press pool access, visas, or permits be revoked?
Is access being conditioned on language or framing?

☐ Map legal exposure
Are non-media laws (tax, fraud, market abuse, national security) relevant?
Could privacy or contempt rules limit identification?

☐ Document public interest
Record why this reporting matters
Keep notes showing responsible editorial decision-making

☐ Confirm legal support
Is legal backing clear for staff and freelancers?
Do reporters know who to call if something goes wrong?

Before Publishing

☐ Check cross-border impact
Could this trigger legal risk outside the reporting country?
Is geoblocking or delayed publication needed?

☐ Run a privacy & retaliation review
Are individuals named under investigation but not charged?
Could publication trigger access retaliation?

☐ Prepare for pushback
Anticipate takedown demands, lawsuits, or credential threats
Align newsroom and legal responses in advance

TRAVEL AND DIGITAL SAFETY

☐ Border hygiene
Use loaner laptop and burner phone when possible; remove sensitive apps, notes, and auto-downloads; store data in the cloud with no local access

☐ Know your devices
Disable auto-saving of messaging app media
Understand what data is visible if your phone is searched

☐ Carry only what you need
Do not travel with sensitive documents or source material

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG

☐ Escalate immediately
Contact legal and editorial leadership
Do not handle alone

☐ Document everything
Who said what, when, and why
Keep emails, notices, and written instructions

☐ Show up
Ensure legal representation
Publicly defend journalistic principles when appropriate

ONGOING

☐ Update risk plans regularly
☐ Share intelligence with peer newsrooms
☐ Budget for legal defense as a core cost
☐ Advocate for anti-SLAPP and press protections

What steps will your newsroom take to proactively address these emerging threats? And how can the international community better support journalists facing increasing pressure in their pursuit of truth?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the biggest threat to freedom of expression globally?

  According to UNESCO’s report, the biggest threat is a systemic decline in democratic freedoms, leading to increased censorship and intimidation of journalists.

• How are autocratic regimes silencing journalists today?

  Modern censorship tactics include revoked credentials, restricted access, visa issues, and the weaponization of legal frameworks, rather than outright bans.

• What is the ‘Dictator’s Playbook’ mentioned in the report?

  The ‘Dictator’s Playbook’ refers to a deliberate strategy employed by autocratic regimes to undermine journalistic independence through legal pressure, intimidation, and control of access.

• What can newsrooms do to protect their journalists from legal threats?

  Newsrooms should prioritize legal preparedness, including risk assessments, pre-emptive legal strategies, and budgeting for potential litigation.

• Why is it important to document public interest when reporting?

  Documenting the public interest behind a story is crucial for defending against legal challenges and demonstrating the value of the reporting.

• How can newsrooms coordinate to address threats to press freedom?

  Newsrooms can coordinate through press freedom groups to share intelligence, challenge retaliatory actions, and advocate for stronger protections.