Press Freedom Report: March 30, 2025

United States

• Pattern of Press Exclusion and Targeted Investigations Deepens
  The administration has broadened its direct actions against the national press. Associated Press reporters were barred from coverage inside the Oval Office, while federal lawsuits have been initiated against multiple major broadcast networks. Simultaneously, probes into NPR, NBC, and other news outlets signal an attempt to reshape the media environment through litigation and credential control. These developments suggest a coordinated strategy to discredit, intimidate, or exclude journalists critical of the executive branch.

Australia

• Whistleblower Conviction Sparks Press Freedom Debate
  David McBride, a former military lawyer who exposed alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, is appealing his conviction under national security laws. The case has ignited widespread debate over whistleblower protections, the role of the press in reporting on military conduct, and the boundaries of state secrecy. Press freedom advocates argue that McBride’s prosecution sends a chilling message to both whistleblowers and journalists seeking to hold powerful institutions accountable.