According to a new report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), freedom of the press has suffered its worst decline in 50 years in most countries worldwide. In the United States, the press remains under verbal attack from the left and right, with religious organizations and leaders expressing mixed feelings ranging from support to accusations that the press is demonizing them.

“The deterioration of press freedom is part of a global trend of democracy under threat, with 54 percent of countries failing in at least one key indicator of democratic performance in 2024 compared to five years before,” IDEA reported.

The Stockholm-based organization explained that democracy is facing a “perfect storm,” including a resurgence in despotic rule and increasing uncertainties about major social and economic changes. It said democracies must “protect key elements of democracy, like elections and the rule of law.”

Freedom of the press is severely limited or non-existent in countries like North Korea, Syria, Eritrea and Cuba. The most dangerous areas for journalists in 2024 included Israel and the occupied Palestinian region, Pakistan, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, India, Mexico, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Ukraine. The nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists, which tracks incidents against journalists, reported that 104 journalists were killed in 2024, 363 were imprisoned, and 69 are missing.

Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria, as well as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua and Argentina, also pose serious dangers to journalists and freedom of the press. Journalists in those regions are routinely subjected to mass surveillance, misuse of the law, attacks by police, and online threats. Even worse, they are also physically assaulted, imprisoned, tortured and/or killed.

Freedom of the press is declining in the United States, although not at the same levels as found in many other countries. The decline was reflected in the Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index 2024, where the U.S. dropped to 55th place from 45th.

Harsh rhetoric from American political leaders who repeatedly attack the media’s credibility, legal intimidation, online bullying, wrongful arrests, restrictive state laws and other systemic factors have contributed to the decline in America’s freedom of the press despite the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee.

Pope Leo XIV, who is American, has spoken in support of journalists and freedom of the press worldwide. He recently noted the plight of journalists who are imprisoned “for seeking and reporting the truth,” and he called for their release. The pope said their distress “challenges the conscience of nations and the international community.” He added that freedom of the press must be defended, and the media must make certain that free speech is protected as well.

But the pope did not end his comments there. He continued by saying the media should focus on the truth rather than “fanaticism and hatred” and added, “We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.”

Pope Leo noted that communication should be “capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.” He urged the media to be responsible for their use of artificial intelligence and make certain they use it for the “benefit of all humanity.” He also explained that peace begins with the way people look at other people, listen to and speak to them.

A Vanderbilt University study conducted several years ago found that many church leaders think that journalists are not well-informed on religious issues and say their reporting is biased. The “chasm of misunderstanding” reported by Vanderbilt still exists.

Religious leaders from various Christian denominations in the U.S. have criticized the press for its perceived hostility to religion, sensational reporting, and bias against conservative and orthodox faiths. Some have also accused media outlets of attacking their faith and censoring their viewpoints.

According to the study, many religious leaders in the U.S. avoid talking to journalists for fear of not being understood and misrepresented. The study recommended that journalists take courses on religion and that the clergy receive training on dealing with journalists.

More recently, numerous conservatives have criticized media coverage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder during a speech on a college campus. Public reaction to news coverage of Kirk’s shooting has been divided along political lines.

NPR noted that the shooting added “to a time of political upheaval and violence,” while BBC said it “lays bare America’s bloody and broken politics.” And the New York Times reported that right-wing activists are urging their followers to track down online posts that seem to celebrate Kirk’s death and share identifying information about the people who posted them.