Press Freedom Report: April 11, 2025

United States

• Censorship of Press Pool Reports: PEN America criticized the White House for withholding at least two press pool reports from distribution. These omissions included details about the cancellation of a press conference with the Israeli Prime Minister and the exclusion of the Associated Press from the press pool. PEN America labeled this as a blatant effort to keep the public uninformed, emphasizing that such censorship undermines transparency and the role of a free press.​PEN America

• Legal Actions Against Government-Funded Media: The Trump administration's decision to place over 1,300 staff of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on leave and terminate funding for outlets like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe has led to lawsuits. Journalists and their unions allege violations of First Amendment rights and seek to reverse these funding cuts and staff suspensions, highlighting the essential role these outlets play in global news dissemination.​

Turkey

• Detention of Journalists: Two prominent journalists, Timur Soykan of BirGün and Murat Ağırel of Cumhuriyet, were detained on charges of threats and blackmail. Their newspapers assert that these charges are retaliatory, stemming from their investigative reporting on government actions. The arrests occurred despite prior arrangements for the journalists to testify voluntarily, raising concerns about press freedom and the use of legal mechanisms to silence critical voices