Press Freedom Report: April 12, 2025

United States
The Trump administration's recent actions have intensified concerns over press freedom. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has placed over 1,300 staff on leave and terminated funding for several news services, including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia. Journalists and their unions have filed a lawsuit against the administration, alleging violations of First Amendment rights and federal laws. The lawsuit seeks to reverse the funding cuts and staff suspensions, emphasizing the critical role these outlets play in providing unbiased news globally.​

Gaza
The region continues to be perilous for journalists. Two Palestinian journalists, Hossam Shabat of Al Jazeera Mubasher and Mohammed Mansour of Palestine Today, were killed in Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli Defense Forces labeled both journalists as terrorists affiliated with Hamas, a claim rejected by both journalists and their respective media organizations. Since the conflict's onset in October 2023, over 170 journalists have been killed, marking the deadliest period for journalists recorded by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).​

Turkey
Press freedom in Turkey faces significant challenges. A prosecutor in Istanbul has detained eight journalists, including Yasin Akgül of Agence France-Presse and former AFP photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, for covering anti-government protests. Initially, an Istanbul court ordered their release, but the decision was later reversed, and official arrest warrants were issued. The journalists are accused of participating in illegal demonstrations and not dispersing after warnings. Human rights and press organizations have condemned the arrests, emphasizing journalists' constitutional right to cover demonstrations.​