
The First Draft of History
Why the decline of foreign reporting makes for worse foreign policy.

How Press Freedom Came Under Attack in 2020
Citizens hungry for information turned to the media during the pandemic, but governments around the world used the crisis to restrict journalists.

Biden Must Restore America’s Reputation as a Beacon of Press Freedom
After four years of hostility to journalists and a free press, the United States must repair the damage Trump has done at home and abroad.

Tackling Disinformation in Brazil
Journalist Patrícia Campos Mello has faced some of the worst disinformation campaigns in Brazil. Now she’s raising awareness to fight back.

Cracking Down on Activists for Their Tweets Isn’t New
The lawyer Prashant Bhushan’s arrest and detention for posting tweets critical of the Indian government is part of a wider global trend.

No, Mr. Prime Minister, Pakistan Does Not Have a Free Press
Imran Khan claims there’s nothing wrong. Abductions and terror say otherwise.

Our Top Weekend Reads
America’s founders missed an opportunity to abolish slavery, attacks on the press are increasing in democratic societies, and Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran isn’t working.

Attacks on the Press Track a Democratic Backslide
As press freedom declines globally, the United States must reckon with its own diminishment.

How to Watch for Freedom Disappearing in Hong Kong
The national security law is just the start of oppression.

Don’t Let Leaders Use the Coronavirus as an Excuse to Violate Civil Liberties
Today’s emergency measures could become tomorrow’s trampling of free speech.

Democracy in Iraq Depends on Press Freedom
Amid a heavy-handed crackdown on protesters, the international community must help Iraqi journalists maintain the free flow of information.

It’s Not Just Elephants That Are Under Attack in Botswana
The country’s government is rolling back wildlife protections and endangering media freedom and the rule of law.

In Hong Kong, the Freedom to Publish Is Under Attack
If the extradition law is eventually forced through the Hong Kong legislature, censorship of books will become commonplace in what has long been a bastion of publishing freedom.

Australia Is Undermining the Freedom of Its Press
A raid on the national broadcaster is a sign of how the recently reelected conservative government intends to rule.
Document of the Week: Facebook Disappoints Authorities—Again
The doctored Nancy Pelosi video hardly marks the first time the social media giant has faced backlash. Consider Germany in 2015.

Poland’s Government Is Systematically Silencing Opposition Voices
Adam Michnik was a hero of the anti-communist struggle. Now his renowned newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza, is under attack from a ruling party that refuses to tolerate dissent.

The World’s Worst Country for Journalists
Turkmenistan is so repressive it is even worse than in Soviet times, says editor Ruslan Myatiev.
Press Freedom is Receding Worldwide
The latest World Press Freedom Index indicates the United States and other large democracies are reaching a tipping point.