Citizen Free Press

Part of the attack on the fundamental right to find and distribute information through independent media outlets is coming from an unexpected source. Many elected leaders of democracies have tried to silence critics and support outlets that provide positive coverage. This trend is related to a global decline of democracy: The erosion in press freedom is both a result of and a contributor of the collapse of other democratic principles and institutions, which is especially alarming.

Freedom House’s Freedom in the World data shows that media freedom around the globe has been declining over the past decade. New forms of repression have taken root in both open societies and authoritarian countries. This trend is especially acute in Europe, which was once a bastion for well-established freedoms. It also appears to be most evident in Eurasia, the Middle East and Eurasia, where many dictatorships in the world are concentrated. The free press corps may be at risk of disappearing if democratic powers stop supporting media independence in their own country and do not impose any consequences for restrictions abroad.

However, experience has shown that even prolonged periods of repression can lead to press freedom rebounding. It is impossible to extinguish the desire for democracy, which includes access to truthful and fact-based journalism.

Attacks on Press Freedom within Democracies

Large segments of the population in some of the most powerful democracies around the globe are not receiving impartial news and information. It is not that journalists are being sent to jail as in authoritarian regimes. Instead, media outlets have been subject to more sophisticated attempts to limit their freedom. Government-backed ownership changes, financial and regulatory pressures, and public denunciations against honest journalists are all common methods. Friendly outlets have received proactive support from the government through lucrative state contracts, favorable regulatory decision and preferential access state information. This is to ensure that the press serves the interests of those in power, rather than the public.

This problem has been created in tandem with right-wing populism which has undermined basic freedoms across many democratic countries. Populist leaders portray themselves as the defenders for an aggrieved minority against liberal elites, ethnic minorities whose loyalty they question. They argue that the national interests–as they define them–should outweigh democratic principles such as transparency, press freedom, open debate, and press freedom.

In Freedom House’s Freedom in the World survey, 19% (16 countries) experienced a decline in their press freedom scores in the past five year. This is consistent in a key finding from Freedom in the World – that democracies are experiencing a decline in civil and political rights. Even though democratic rule has been in effect for many decades, it is painfully obvious that a free press cannot be taken as a given.

Viktor Orban’s government of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic’s administration in Serbia had great success in suppressing critical journalism, opening the way for populist forces in other countries. Both leaders have concentrated media ownership in the hands their cronies, making sure that outlets with the greatest reach support the government as well as smear any perceived enemies. Nearly 80 percent of media outlets in Hungary, where this process is much more advanced, are controlled by government allies. *

Global Decline

Freedom House has been following the decline in democracy over the past 13 years and the breakdown of global press freedom. While the press isn’t always the first to be attacked by a country’s leaders, the repression of free media is a clear indicator that civil rights and civil liberties may be at risk. Attacks on media independence are often associated with the power grabs of incumbent leaders or entrenched regimes’ attempts at crushing perceived threats to their control.

The country that was previously classified as Not Free in Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report has been the most likely to experience a decline in its press freedom scores over the past five year. In fact, 28 percent of Not Free nations experienced such a drop. Due to the volatility of middle performers and complex forces that influenced their trajectory, Partly Free countries were nearly equally likely to see a rise in press freedom. Global press freedom has been declining due to the worsening records of Not Free countries and the downward trend among Free countries.

Guiding Lights for the Darkness

Global press freedom does not look all bad. The best examples of democratic progress in the last two years have been Ethiopia, Malaysia, Armenia and Ecuador. They all experienced almost parallel improvements in their media environments. Only Armenia did not register an improvement in its media freedom score in the year following its first political opening in Freedom in the World. This correlation highlights once again the relationship between media freedoms and political change. Just like antidemocratic power grabs often include attacks on independent media, reformist leaderships are defined by their willingness to take criticism from a free media. Just as media freedom restrictions often precede erosion of other rights and vice versa, the removal of these restrictions promotes democratic progress.

These improvements also show the resilience of independent journalism despite years of oppression. Independent media outlets in Malaysia and Ecuador were able to recover from censorship, and former pro-government outlets were able to produce more objective coverage. Ethiopia allowed outlets operating abroad to return to Ethiopia. Persecuted journalists in The Gambia have returned to their homeland after years of exile. More locals are now interested in the job.

The Media and Democracy

Although the threat to global media freedom is real and serious in its own right, the impact they have on democracy’s state of affairs is what makes them so dangerous. For a strong, sustainable democracy to exist, it is equally important that there be a free and independent media sector. This will allow citizens to keep informed and hold politicians accountable. It is essential for citizens to be able to make informed decisions about how their government operates. Also, it prevents abuse of power from being exposed and corrected.

Reviewing some of the countries which have experienced potential turning points over the past year shows how important it is for the media to be free to express their opinions.

Journalists played an important role in the April 2019 ouster in Algeria of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the authoritarian president. They not only reported on the antigovernment protests but also staged their own demonstrations in cases where major news outlets did not pay enough attention to the movement. Bouteflika’s resignation saw the continued arrests of journalists critical to the movement. This is a sign that the leadership transition may not be as revolutionary as many had hoped.

Additional Analysis

This is the first of a four-part series on the connections between democracy and media freedom.

Sarah Cook examines the implications of China’s globalizing media influence on democracy. She examines the ways the Chinese Communist Party expands its overseas influence operations by participating in news reporting, content dissemination and, in some cases, electoral politics. Even though Beijing has not attempted to impede free expression or access to information in any of the settings, it is laying the foundations for future interference with grave implications for democracy.

ZselykeCsaky examines the toolbox democratically elected, but illiberal leaders use in co-opting the media. She examines the legal and extralegal economic tactics used in Serbia and Hungary which both declined to be Partly Free in Freedom in the World this. This essay also discusses the conditions that make media environments susceptible to illiberal and co-optation.

The Implications of China’s Globalizing Media Influence on Democracy

Key Findings

• China’s government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as well as other proxies, have quickly expanded their control over media production and distribution channels. The CCP has increased its ability to interfere in other countries should it so choose.
• Chinese authorities have an impact on news media content all over the globe through three main strategies: they promote the CCP’s narratives and suppress critical views. They also manage content delivery systems.
• These efforts have already undermined key features of democratic governance, best practices for media freedom, and interfered with Chinese diaspora communities.
• Policymakers and media development supporters in democracies must take decisive actions to counter the negative effects of Beijing’s foreign media influence campaign.