By Dave Van Zandt
The United States has fallen to 57th place in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, its lowest ranking in recent history, reflecting a deepening crisis for journalism in the country. Press freedom in the U.S. now faces unprecedented challenges—not only from political pressure but also from economic collapse within the media industry.
While physical attacks and legal threats against journalists are rising, the most insidious threat is financial. The economic indicator within the Index, which measures the financial viability of journalism, has dropped more than 14 points in the U.S. over the last two years. Over 60% of journalists in key states like Arizona and Pennsylvania say they struggle to earn a living wage, while 75% believe their outlets are barely financially viable. Local news is vanishing, creating vast “news deserts” and weakening democracy.
President Donald Trump’s return to office has further worsened conditions. His administration abruptly defunded the U.S. Agency for Global Media, impacting outlets like Voice of America, and cut aid from USAID that sustained global journalism. At home, his politicization of federal agencies and exclusion of critical media has contributed to a 28-place drop in the social indicator for the U.S., reflecting a more hostile environment.
Meanwhile, the dominance of tech platforms like Meta and Google has siphoned off advertising revenue, pushing even legacy outlets toward collapse. As ownership concentration grows, so does editorial interference, with journalists facing pressure from both political forces and profit-driven media owners.
The U.S. once led the world in defending press freedom. In 2025, it is now a case study in how political hostility, unchecked corporate power, and economic erosion can converge to silence independent journalism.
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For the most part, Trump has stymied the left wing infestation of these quite obvious left wing for decades outlets. I only see conditional caution here. Journalism is dead. It’s mostly left wing cheerleading and indoctrination. Tear it down. Start over. NPR? UNBIASED? GASLIGHT US SOME MORE!
Your commentary is heavily liberal biased. You need to work on it or lose more subscribers.
If objectivity and truth are no longer held up as our goals in reporting the news, democracy is indeed dead. If freedom of the press is abandoned, how will voters be informed? Voters now look to online editorials parading as objective fact.