Around the world, journalists are facing growing pressure—from legal threats and online harassment to financial constraints and shrinking civic space. These challenges don’t just affect individual journalists—they impact our collective ability to access credible, independent information and hold those in power to account.

In a recent episode of the AccountabiliTea podcast, Cheri-Leigh Erasmus, Co-CEO of Accountability Lab and host of the podcast, spoke with Danai Nhando, a Human Rights Lawyer and Social Entrepreneur, and Nkosikhona Dibiti, Executive Director of Community Podium and Journalist, about the state of media freedom today.

Their insights speak to a global moment of reckoning for journalism and underscore the shared responsibility we all carry in defending it.

1. Legal protections exist—but implementation is weak

International frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights all guarantee the right to freedom of expression.

But as Danai pointed out, these protections often lose power at the national level. Governments routinely exploit gaps in enforcement and weaponize domestic laws—such as vague cybercrime statutes or “fake news” regulations—to criminalize legitimate journalism.

Danai also highlighted the growing use of SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and pre-trial detentions to wear journalists down over time—financially, emotionally, and professionally. These tactics are designed to deter truth-telling by turning legal frameworks meant to protect expression into tools of suppression.

2. Financial pressure is a quiet but powerful form of censorship

Independent and community-based media outlets often depend on advertising or donor funding to survive. In many countries, governments control large portions of advertising budgets, which they selectively withhold from critical outlets. The result is a form of economic censorship that limits what gets published—and what doesn’t.

Nkosikhona shared how this dynamic plays out for smaller, independent media platforms that cover public interest issues often ignored by mainstream outlets. He noted, “Sometimes, it’s as simple as closing the funding tap—and you’re done.”

When journalism is driven by survival rather than service, important stories go untold—and communities lose access to the information they need to make informed decisions.

3. Social media is both a platform and a threat

The rise of digital platforms has fundamentally changed the media landscape. Journalists today can reach audiences more directly than ever before. But with that access comes risk.

Danai emphasized that social media is now a double-edged sword: while it allows for broader visibility and advocacy, it also exposes journalists to smear campaigns, surveillance, harassment, and misinformation. In repressive contexts, social media posts have even been used as evidence to detain or prosecute reporters.

As emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerate the spread of manipulated content, the line between truth and falsehood becomes harder to distinguish—increasing the urgency of protecting journalists who are committed to verified, ethical reporting.

4. Journalists need stronger protection networks

Both Danai and Nkosikhona stressed the importance of legal protections, accreditation, and support networks for journalists working in difficult environments.

In many communities, reporters face pressure not just from the state, but also from social structures like traditional leadership or local power holders. Having the backing of organizations such as Amnesty International, The Media Institute of Southern Africa, and Lawyers for Human Rights provides a buffer and reinforces their credibility.

Community Podium, for example, works with young people in rural and peri-urban areas to co-create content that reflects their lived realities. But without clear protections, these journalists often work in fear—sometimes reporting on issues involving their neighbors or local leaders. Building protection networks helps make this work safer and more sustainable.

5. Citizens play a critical role in protecting press freedom

Both Danai and Nkosikhona made it clear: defending press freedom is not just the responsibility of journalists or media organizations. Everyone has a role to play—from civil society to everyday citizens.

Public solidarity, online and offline, can be a powerful shield. Campaigns like #JournalismIsNotACrime and #HoldTheLine have drawn global attention to cases of repression and abuse, showing how collective action can create real pressure on authorities and legal systems. “When we act together,” Danai said, “we create a buffer between the individual and the threat.”

Nkosikhona added that solidarity is especially critical for journalists working within their own communities, where social and political dynamics can make reporting difficult. “When people stop speaking up, when they stop reporting,” he warned, “we begin to normalize silence—and that silence can be dangerous.”

Why this matters?

At Accountability Lab, we know that a free and independent press is essential to any effort to build integrity, fight corruption, and amplify community voices. Journalists are often the first to uncover injustice and the last line of defense for civic space.

When journalists are silenced, accountability suffers. When media spaces shrink, so does democracy.

Listen to the full episode titled ‘Championing social justice: How can we defend press freedom? Insights from Danai Nhando & Nkosikhona Dibiti’ here.

Naseera Noor-Mahomed