As South Africa joins the global community in marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, renewed attention is being placed on the fragile state of media freedom and the growing pressures shaping journalism in the digital era.
The United Nations (UN) emphasises that press freedom and independent journalism remain central to building peaceful, inclusive societies.
“By fostering access to reliable information, accountability, dialogue, and trust, press freedom and independent journalism are key to peace, economic recovery, sustainable development, and human rights,” it said on its website.
This year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace”, reflects both the importance of journalism and the mounting challenges it faces.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), global press freedom has experienced its steepest decline since 2012.
Dr Marenet Jordaan, chair of the Stellenbosch University’s Journalism Department, said media freedom in the country faces threats from both outside and within the industry.
External pressures include lawsuits targeting journalists, online abuse, particularly against female journalists, and efforts by powerful figures to discredit the media. Internally, some outlets’ failure to uphold ethical standards further undermines credibility and weakens overall press freedom.
Gawie Botma, associate professor at the same department said that press freedom in South Africa over the past decade presents a mixed picture, with strong constitutional protections remaining in place, but practical conditions becoming more fragile.
“South Africa still has one of the most robust legal frameworks for press freedom in Africa, with constitutional protections and a strong tradition of investigative journalism,” he said.
“Economic pressures on media [such as] declining advertising and revenue are forcing some outlets toward self-censorship to survive,” Botma explained, citing this as a factor contributing to the decline in press freedom.
Global report
Findings from Unesco’s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Global Report 2022–2025 paint a concerning picture. The report notes that global levels of freedom of expression have dropped by around 10% over the past decade, signalling a sustained erosion of media independence.
The document further highlights that many journalists are choosing not to report certain stories because they are afraid of the consequences, such as harassment or legal pressure. This has increased by 60% between 2022 and 2025.
In South Africa, where constitutional protections for freedom of expression are strong, these global trends still resonate, particularly as journalists navigate political pressures, shrinking newsrooms and an evolving digital landscape.
Artificial Intelligence
A growing concern is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping information ecosystems, the report stated.
While artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities for innovation in journalism, from streamlining research to improving content production, the report warns that it is also increasingly being misused to manipulate information and distort public narratives.
Technologies such as deepfakes and AI-generated content, for example, are making it more difficult for audiences to distinguish between fact and fiction, contributing to a growing crisis of confidence in the media
Unesco’s report underscores how the dominance of major technology platforms has altered the media economy, creating fertile ground for hate speech and disinformation while weakening traditional news models. Independent media outlets, including many in South Africa, face increasing financial strain, raising questions about sustainability and editorial independence.
According to Botma, AI is a “double-edged sword” for journalism. It can strengthen reporting through improved data analysis, fact-checking, efficiency and broader audience reach. However, it also enables the spread of misinformation and deepfakes, undermining credibility and public trust, with growing concerns around bias, surveillance and manipulation.
“AI can empower journalism, but without oversight it can also undermine press freedom through misinformation, manipulation, and trust erosion,” he said.
Safety
The safety of journalists also remains a pressing issue. Globally, hundreds of journalists have been killed in recent years including in the ongoing wars in the Middle East as well as in Ukraine, while many more face threats, harassment and intimidation. The report points to a particularly troubling trend of online abuse, especially targeting women journalists, contributing to a climate of fear that encourages self-censorship.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of resilience. Unesco highlights the rise of collaborative investigative journalism, growing public support for paid news subscriptions and initiatives aimed at strengthening information integrity. These developments suggest that while the media landscape is under pressure, efforts to adapt and innovate are gaining ground.
READ: 128 journalists killed in 2025 as global press freedom crisis deepens
World Press Freedom Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, serves as both a celebration and a call to action. It commemorates the 1991 Windhoek Declaration signed in Namibia which is a landmark statement adopted by African journalists advocating for free, independent and pluralistic media.
Paarl Post also approached the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, non-profit organisation that defends press freedom globally. Their comment will be included once received.
