A 10 percent global decline in press freedom has been recorded, according to the 2026 UNESCO World Trends Report on Press Freedom, a key finding highlighted during the World Press Freedom Day 2026 conference held from 4–5 May in Lusaka, Zambia.
The conference, co-hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Zambia, brought together regional government representatives, media professionals, academics, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to examine the evolving challenges facing journalism and media freedom worldwide. The gathering was held under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security.”
According to the UNESCO report, the decline in press freedom is occurring in a complex global environment marked by intensifying armed conflicts, 61 active conflicts worldwide in 2024, as well as increasing information manipulation and interference by malicious actors, including through artificial intelligence. These developments have weakened trust, shared understanding and national security.
The report also highlights a 48 percent increase in efforts to control or restrict media, alongside persistent violence against journalists, where 85 percent of killings remain unpunished. In addition, independent media are facing growing economic fragility linked to the concentration of more than 54 percent of global advertising revenues within digital platforms. Rapid disruption of information ecosystems driven by digital platforms and artificial intelligence is also reshaping the media landscape, with 40 percent of users already relying on AI to create or modify content (UNESCO, 2026).
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Hakainde Hichilema, the President of Zambia, the Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, said Zambia remains committed to strengthening democratic governance and media freedom through legal and policy reforms.
Zambia continues to demonstrate its commitment to democratic governance, media freedom, and the promotion of fundamental rights through a series of legal and policy reforms,” he said. “These reforms under the Government of Zambia collectively underscore Zambia’s resolve to foster a media landscape that is free, independent, and responsible, while contributing to the broader global agenda on good governance, human rights, and sustainable development.
read Zambia’s Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, on behalf of the President, Hakainde Hichilema.
During the conference, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting press freedom globally through various programmes and initiatives. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Mariya Gabriel, emphasized the critical role of journalism in sustaining peaceful and democratic societies.
The integrity of journalists and freedom of expression are essential guarantees to the development of societies and peace.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Mariya Gabriel.
The conference featured discussions on several critical themes, including the relationship between press freedom, peace, security and economic development; digital transformation and artificial intelligence; information integrity; and media viability, pluralism and inclusion.
A series of side events complemented the main programme, focusing on areas such as support for economic journalism, sexual harassment in newsrooms, media and information literacy, the Academic Media Conference, and the Africa Media Convention.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/press-freedom-declines-globally-experts-warn-2026-world-press-freedom-day-conference-zambia?hub=701
