From authoritarian regimes deliberately cutting off digital access to democratic governments using courts and legislation to silence journalists, the question of how journalists can safely do their job of getting information out and into the hands of the public has become more urgent than ever.
In partnership with the George W. Bush Institute, CNTI recently convened a global roundtable on the state of press freedom, bringing together journalists, media executives, researchers, legal experts and more. This particular discussion, the second in our series with the Bush Institute, built off of recent CNTI research into internet shutdowns and press freedom in Iran. That briefing, which examined how the Iranian government has systematically dismantled open internet access and suppressed press freedom in the process, served as a jumping-off point for exploring potential interventions to safeguard the flow of information and build more resilient information ecosystems.
Here’s a look at some of the key insights that emerged from the discussion, held under Chatham House Rule.
Old and new tools with a renewed sense of urgency
“What little is left of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe — they are using radio to get into Korea, to get into Iran, because it’s the cheapest and simplest way to do it.”
In an age of cutting-edge technology, we tend to look to the newest technologies as the answer to circumventing information suppression. But participants shared situations where the optimal approach leans more on older technology, ultimately suggesting that keeping both in mind is important. Legacy infrastructure — shortwave radio, print distribution networks, even single-page flyers — can fill the gap in reaching audiences when internet access is unreliable, restricted or the press is under surveillance.
Another participant described a grassroots print movement in a country with a hostile government in which volunteers printed and hand-distributed a free newspaper across small towns and rural communities that had no access to independent broadcasting. “It was part of their political success,” they said.
At the same time, a promising new technology is emerging as a potential answer for those experiencing information suppression. Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite internet connects ordinary smartphones directly to the internet from space — no cell towers, no carrier agreements, no extra hardware needed. In practice, this could transform the documentation of human rights abuses, coordination of medical aid and family communication when terrestrial networks are severed. Whether D2C becomes a viable tool to uphold press freedom and access to information depends on how it’s regulated, which will likely come to a head at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27).
Regulatory pressure is building worldwide in discreet ways
Participants also delved into current and proposed legislation that would eliminate some of the safeguards protecting journalists. Often, these regulations are packaged as a solution to one problem but inevitably create another – intentionally or not. As one participant noted, his organization’s legal work is increasingly focused on “helping combat regulatory actions and laws piecemeal restricting access to the internet, mostly under the guise of protecting children.” A pointed example: the latest FCC proposal aimed at eliminating robocalls would effectively eliminate burner phones, an essential tool for journalists working in high-stakes situations.
The pressure isn’t limited to legacy journalists. Participants flagged growing pressure on college journalists and newsroom leaders, amplified by sudden, unexplained firings and funding shifts.
“I don’t think it should be taken lightly,” one participant said. “Press freedom issues for college journalists — we’re seeing it come to a boiling point.”
Public awareness is the precondition for everything else
“For the public to care, they have to see the value of the role of the press in society. And that’s already a hard place to start from when we’re seeing the trust numbers, the relevance, the lack of connection that’s felt in many cases.”
Protecting press freedom ultimately depends on whether the public understands and feels personally connected to what’s at stake, echoing conversations CNTI has been part of across multiple convenings, like our event co-hosted with Organización Editorial Mexicana in Mexico City.
Collectively, participants were able to recall moments where that connection broke through: public outrage over a proposed internet tax that forced a government to back down; audiences mobilizing around threats to campus journalism; and communities rallying around independent outlets. “If the individual feels impacted — that’s when they’re going to speak up.”
The challenge, as one participant put it, is turning those moments into unwavering support. “Society is too fast in moving on, and not willing to give us long-term credit for what we have achieved and to understand that in the future, they need it just as much as in the past.”
Not every takeaway was a cautionary tale
Participants held Hungary up as proof of what independent media can achieve when the odds are stacked against them. In an environment where the information ecosystem had already been intentionally weakened by the government, legislation was introduced that would have effectively prohibited independent outlets from operating. When it came to a vote, outlets that had long worked in isolation came together by holding a joint livestream in front of parliament.
“When all the remaining independent media went out to the square right in front of the parliament and held a livestream together, the pressure helped us win.”
Sustained investigative reporting from these outlets played a direct role in democratic change, directly influencing an electoral outcome.
“The entire public awareness of how people had been misled on many issues,” one participant said, “was pretty much dominated by the media’s presence and the media’s information provision.”
This event was held under Chatham House Rule. Quotes have not been attributed to specific participants. CNTI and the Bush Institute remain committed to continuing these conversations and supporting the community of global practitioners who uphold press freedom worldwide. To share research, connect on press freedom work, or learn more about CNTI’s ongoing efforts in this space, reach out to us at info@cnti.org.
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