Journalists And Writers Foundation Presents

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2025

The Power of Press Freedom and Online Media for Human Rights and Democracy

1 May 2025, Thursday | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM EST | ZOOM

On May 1, 2025, the Journalists and Writers Foundation organized a virtual panel discussion on “the Power of Press Freedom and Online Media for Human Rights and Democracy” on the sidelines of World Press Freedom Day 2025, convening media professionals from the United States, Canada and Sweden. 

In her welcoming remarks, Cemre Ulker, Representative of the JWF to the UN Department of Global Communications, emphasized the growing challenges journalists face globally, ranging from criminalization, judicial harassment, online violence, and arbitrary detention, as threats to press freedom and media independence escalate in autocratic settings. She noted the decline of democratic norms, the erosion of multilateral trust, and the rise of hybrid warfare, making the protection of journalists and civil society actors more urgent than ever.

This timely discussion was moderated by Washington DC-based Journalist JJ Green, National Security Correspondent of WTOP News. He reflected on the deep challenges journalism faces globally today, especially in light of authoritarian pressures, rising disinformation, and the erosion of press freedom, even in democratic nations like the U.S. Drawing on his 30 years of experience reporting from over 50 countries, JJ Green emphasized that while the trajectory for journalism may appear bleak, hope and resilience remain. He invoked the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin to stress the urgent need for unity among journalists, stating, “If we don’t stand together to defend a free press today, there may be no freedoms left to protect tomorrow.”

JJ Green highlighted the dangerous narrowing of free speech across the globe, from overt censorship and online harassment to subtle self-censorship and disinformation campaigns. He reminded the audience that the true test of freedom lies not just in legal rights, but in whether journalists and citizens can express themselves freely and safely in public spaces. Framing the session around UNESCO’s 2025 theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom”, Mr. Green positioned the discussion within the larger context of AI, digital transformation, and authoritarian resurgence, emphasizing that while new media creates opportunity, it also brings threats like surveillance, shutdowns, and cyber harassment.

Kiran Nazish, the Founding Director of the Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) based in Canada focused on combating online harassment and disinformation in the age of rising autocracies, particularly the targeting of women journalists. CFWIJ which began by monitoring press freedom in just 12 countries, now tracks violations in 145 countries, specifically focusing on women and marginalized journalists. In CFWIJ’s recent five-year report, they documented a 270% rise in attacks targeting these groups, ranging from imprisonment and detentions to police violence, legal harassment, and disinformation campaigns. Kiran Nazish emphasized that the nature of repression varies, but the use of digital tools as a weapon is alarmingly consistent across regions.

Ms. Nazish described China as “the most digitally repressive country,” citing its sophisticated use of AI and its notorious “Great Firewall” that blocks foreign websites and suppresses dissenting content. “China has used its wealth and technological advancements not to empower, but to control,” she said. In contrast, she explained how countries with fewer resources, like Iran, implement repression differently. “Iran blocks entire internet access during protests—it’s a total blackout. The lack of access becomes a tool for erasure.”

Myanmar, she noted, has also risen to the top of their concern list since the military coup. There, journalists, especially women, have been abducted during the night, often disappearing without a trace due to digital shutdowns that make such events difficult to track. Russia was identified not only for its domestic suppression but also for its transnational repression. “Russian authorities target even those in exile, Ukrainian, European, and even our team has been hit by cyberattacks.”

 “The rise of anti-democratic governments comes with the rise of digital surveillance and manipulation,” she stated. Beyond documenting abuses, Kiran Nazish outlined key recommendations. She strongly called for the creation of a Global Digital Freedom Alliance, a coalition involving UN agencies, G7 countries, and civil society, to address online repression with coordinated responses. “We cannot counter digital authoritarianism alone. We need alliances, resources, and political will,” she said. She also emphasized the urgent need to protect exiled journalists, noting that even in the U.S. and Europe, there are insufficient protections. “Unless you’re fleeing from Iran or Russia, you’re barely on the radar,” Kiran Nazish observed.

Ms. Nazish advocated for increased investment in circumvention technology that can safeguard not only journalists but also activists, dissidents, and scholars under threat. She closed by calling for solidarity that transcends borders: “Repression is not bounded by geography anymore. If we are serious about democracy, we must work together, not separated by borders, but united by the mission to defend truth and protect those who speak it.”

Dr. Marina Nord, Co-Author of the Democracy Report 2025 from the V-Dem Institute in Sweden, presented a stark, data-driven overview of the global decline in democratic governance and freedom of expression. “As a researcher,” she began, “I will talk about facts”—and what followed were some of the most sobering statistics shared during the session. According to the latest V-Dem data, democracy worldwide has regressed to levels last seen in 1985, a time predating the end of the Cold War. “That’s when Gorbachev came to power,” she reminded the audience. As of 2024, 72% of the global population lives under autocratic regimes, compared to just 49% two decades ago. For the first time in the 21st century, there are more autocracies (91) than democracies (88) in the world.

One of the most troubling trends Dr. Nord emphasized was the rise in “closed autocracies”, which were declining for decades but are now resurging rapidly. “Even Belarus, which used to be an electoral autocracy, is now categorized as a fully closed autocracy,” she noted. Beyond the numbers, Dr. Nord outlined a dangerous pattern: the quality of democracy is eroding even in states still labeled democratic. Many liberal democracies are now being downgraded to electoral democracies, marked by declining media freedom, increasing censorship, and rising political polarization.

A particularly grim section of her talk highlighted the alarming global decline in freedom of expression. In 2024, this right deteriorated in 44 countries—up from 35 the previous year. “This is not a regional issue,” Dr. Nord stressed, pointing to a world map dominated by red—marking countries where democracy is worsening. “It’s a global trend.” She listed the nine most affected components of democracy, noting that media freedom, freedom of academic expression, and the harassment of journalists were among the top areas under attack. She added that government censorship and efforts to control information have risen sharply across multiple continents.

Dr. Nord then turned to a clear and disturbing pattern: disinformation and political polarization fuel autocratization. “When government disinformation increases, political polarization also rises, and democracies begin to slide into autocracy,” she explained, referencing case studies of Hungary, Nicaragua, and Serbia. These countries demonstrated a measurable rise in disinformation, hate speech, and declining liberal democracy scores. “Polarization becomes toxic when political opponents are no longer seen as competitors, but as enemies,” Dr. Marina Nord warned. Alarmingly, even liberal democracies like the United States and France are now reaching such toxic levels of division.

Citing the V-Dem Institute’s collaboration with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), she offered evidence that media freedom is not just essential for democracy, but for peace. “There is no democracy without media freedom. The data is conclusive: the more a country respects press freedom, the less likely it is to experience violent conflict or repression.” Her concluding message was unambiguous: media freedom and democracy are inseparable, and both are under serious threat. Only by recognizing the structural links between disinformation, polarization, and repression can we begin to address the crisis facing democratic societies today.

Abdullah Bozkurt, Director of the Nordic Research and Monitoring Network in Sweden and a Turkish investigative journalist in exile, delivered a deeply personal and urgent reflection on the state of press freedom under authoritarian regimes, drawing specifically from his own experiences as a journalist forced to flee his homeland.

“I didn’t leave Turkey because I wanted to,” he began. “I left because staying would have meant choosing between imprisonment, self-censorship, or complicity.” In Turkey, Mr. Bozkurt explained, the simple act of asking hard questions or reporting facts has become a criminal offense. Independent newspapers have been shuttered, anti-terror laws are routinely misused to silence dissent, and journalists are harassed, jailed, or pushed into exile.

Now based in Sweden for the past nine years, Abdullah Bozkurt described exile not as liberation, but as “survival.” While Sweden offers safety and the space to continue his work, the challenges are ongoing. “Exile is not freedom, it’s a continuous struggle to maintain integrity in the face of censorship, surveillance, and smear campaigns,” he said.

He highlighted the dual-edge of digital tools. On one hand, they offer opportunities for journalists to bypass censorship and continue reporting across borders. On the other, they are also used by regimes to track, harass, and silence dissenters abroad. “My social media accounts have been blocked in Turkey. My news site, NordicMonitor.com, is inaccessible inside the country”. Even major tech platforms, he warned, have “caved in to pressure from authoritarian governments,” removing content or restricting access in response to state demands.

Abdullah Bozkurt also described the more insidious forms of transnational repression that many exiled journalists now face. In Turkey’s case, this includes cyberattacks, phishing attempts, and digital surveillance. But it goes further: families of exiled journalists are also targeted. “We’ve seen spouses and even children of journalists detained, just to punish those of us who live abroad and keep reporting,” he said. Financial insecurity adds yet another layer to the struggle. “We lose access to traditional sources of funding,” he noted, pushing journalists to seek support from international NGOs, diaspora communities, and online platforms, resources that are limited and difficult to sustain. That is why, partnerships and solidarity are vital. “Events like this give us strength. They are fuel to keep going.”

Despite these challenges, Abdullah Bozkurt remained unwavering in his commitment to truth and justice. “We are creating memories,” he said. “We are building an archive that will hold those who harm press freedom accountable in the future.” He echoed earlier speakers in pointing out that repression may be on the rise, but it is part of a historical pendulum, one that will eventually swing back toward justice. To those who ask what can be done, Mr. Bozkurt was clear: “Support independent journalism. Follow our work. Share it. Fund it, if you can. Hold tech platforms accountable. Speak out when you see injustice, because silence is a form of complicity.”

He closed with a powerful message to his fellow journalists around the world, especially those in exile or danger: “Your work is more valuable than ever. We need you to keep telling the truth, because disinformation and half-truths are not just annoying, they are dangerous.”

The panel then moved to the Q&A session. JJ Green highlighted that the attendees from over 22 countries, including Liberia, Georgia, India, Mexico, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Spain were present, reinforcing the truly global nature of the issue and the collective need to defend journalism across borders.

The first question was directed to Kiran Nazish, Founder of CFWIJ, asking how much time and energy she and her team spend defending themselves from digital and legal threats just to be able to do their work. Ms. Nazish revealed that since founding CFWIJ in 2019, the organization has been under relentless attack, from white supremacist groups in the U.S. to the Taliban, and state-level targeting in Turkey. “Erdogan’s office knows my name,” she said candidly. These attacks are not only technical or legal; they also deeply affect staff well-being and mental health. “We’ve had team members whose homes were raided, whose equipment was confiscated, and who required surveillance cameras outside their residences, this even happened in Canada,” she shared. The cost, Kiran Nazish emphasized, isn’t only emotional; it’s logistical, legal, and financial. Despite operating in multiple countries, Ms. Nazish explained that there is a severe lack of international legal infrastructure to support journalists across borders. She called for a coalition of democracies, especially G7 countries, to pool resources and protect civil society organizations doing this high-risk work.

Abdullah Bozkurt, a Turkish journalist in exile and director of the Nordic Research and Monitoring Network, offered strategies for countering digital repression. He explained how journalists like him, banned and blocked in their home countries, must diversify their platforms. “Don’t rely on one site or one channel. Treat your digital presence like an investment portfolio,” he advised. In Turkey, major tech companies have yielded to government pressure and blocked his social media accounts and website. But beyond platform suppression, Bozkurt highlighted that exiled journalists face constant cyberattacks, phishing attempts, and digital surveillance. “Sometimes even family members back home are detained to pressure journalists living abroad,” he said. The only way to sustain operations under such conditions, he argued, is through international collaboration, diaspora networks, and solidarity efforts like this event.

Turning to a more structural view, Dr. Marina Nord, Co-author of the V-Dem Democracy Report 2025, responded to the question of why autocracies are rising. “There’s no single reason, it varies by country,” she explained. In some, inequality and unmet public expectations fuel populist leaders who promise easy fixes. Once in power, however, these leaders dismantle democratic institutions. “Autocratization begins with attacks on media freedom and expression,” Dr. Marina Nord said. “If people vote based on lies, then democracy dies.” She outlined a clear sequence seen in dozens of countries: first, the press is silenced; then civil society is attacked; then, other checks and balances fall. Dr. Nord underscored that the erosion of media freedom is often the earliest warning sign of democratic collapse.

An attendee from Ethiopia asked a difficult question: What can be done when censorship is so pervasive that press freedom is practically nonexistent? Kiran Nazish responded with empathy and urgency. She acknowledged that in places like Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, and even South Africa, censorship can become so normalized that journalists no longer document violations, because it’s no longer even perceived as abnormal. In such environments, self-censorship becomes the default. “When you can’t measure repression anymore, it has been fully absorbed into the system,” she said. The only solution, she emphasized, is external support. “International organizations must step in. Democracies have a responsibility to protect journalism globally, because repression anywhere eventually weakens democracy everywhere.”

The panel then turned to how journalists and civil society actors can use AI to fight back. Abdullah Bozkurt explained that AI tools can help with editing, resource efficiency, and even research, but they can also be polluted by government disinformation. “The trick is to create exclusive, verified content that will rank higher and help counter misinformation,” he said. Kiran Nazish added that AI can also be used for digital safety: automated threat detection, natural language processing to track hate campaigns, anonymity tools, and even mental health apps tailored for journalists. She emphasized the need for training and access, especially for Global South journalists who often lack these resources.

Finally, the panel was asked a critical question: What can be done beyond inspiration? Dr. Marina Nord said, “Dictatorships thrive in silence. We must fact-check, build trust, and invest in old-school investigative journalism that earns public credibility.” Ms. Nazish urged individuals to take personal responsibility, by resisting disinformation, protecting vulnerable communities, and understanding that the integrity of the information we consume shapes our collective future. “Journalism must evolve into collaboration, not competition,” she said. Mr. Bozkurt closed with a clear message: “Credibility is everything. If we lose that, we lose our power. We must also find creative ways to connect press freedom to everyday lives, because when it collapses, everyone pays the price.”

JJ Green concluded with a passionate call: “Let us not confuse this for an end. It’s just the beginning.” He reminded the audience that truth remains the light in the darkness. “Keep speaking, keep writing, keep fighting, because the world is listening.”