A new global report says that press freedom is collapsing worldwide. Not a big secrete revealed. It has reached its weakest point in 50 years. According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, more than half of the world’s countries have seen a drop in democracy since 2019.
This decline is not only about authoritarian governments tightening their grip or misusing the fight against disinformation. It is also about the slow weakening of journalism from within. And when it comes to Pakistan, we must admit that the press is facing a crisis of its own making.
Consider: journalists in Pakistani newsrooms work under constant censorship, threats and a lack of safety. We should not forget that newspapers and media houses themselves are failing their own workers. Editors are often kept in service through repeated extensions.
They block opportunities for younger journalists to grow. Career promotion is rare, pay is poor (not applicable to editors) and staffers see little future ahead. This culture has not only killed motivation but has also damaged the quality of reporting. As a result, investigative journalism has become weaker. Newspapers often recycle official statements instead of challenging them. Stories that should give voice to the people are replaced with safe, predictable content. The shrinking of local media outlets further worsens the problem, leaving communities without coverage of issues that matter most to them. The global report warned that the disappearance of local media threatens democracy everywhere. In Pakistan, we see this daily as small newspapers close down and young journalists leave the profession altogether. Instead of nurturing new voices, media institutions are clinging to old structures and practices that no longer meet the needs of a vibrant, media-literate society.
Press freedom is not just about resisting outside pressure. It is also about building strong, independent, and motivated newsrooms that can speak truth to power. Pakistan’s media must look inwards and reform itself. *