My Major Personal Project – Critical Research Journal

The Threat to Press Freedom in the 21st Century

What is Press Freedom?

Press freedom refers to the ability of journalists, media organisations, and individuals to report, investigate, and publish information without undue interference, censorship, or retaliation from the state, corporations, or other powerful entities. It is a fundamental pillar of democracy, ensuring transparency, accountability, and an informed public.

True press freedom includes:

Legal protection from state interference or legal threats.
Pluralism, ensuring a diversity of media voices.
Editorial independence, allowing journalists to report without corporate or political influence.
Freedom from violence, meaning journalists can work without fear of intimidation, imprisonment, or assassination.

Why is Press Freedom Important?

A free press holds power to account. It investigates corruption, challenges abuses, and ensures that the public has access to accurate and diverse information. When the press is strong, democracy is strong. Without it, misinformation thrives, power becomes unchecked, and authoritarian tendencies grow.

The decline of press freedom is not just an issue of censorship—it affects human rights, social justice, and the very fabric of democratic governance.

Why is Press Freedom Under Threat?

There are several factors contributing to the erosion of press freedom globally:

Authoritarianism and the Rise of the Far Right
Far-right movements, often linked to nationalism, populism, and reactionary politics, tend to view the press as an enemy. Figures like Donald Trump in the US, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Narendra Modi in India have openly attacked the media, branding journalists as “fake news” peddlers or “enemies of the people.” This delegitimises journalism and justifies restrictions on press freedom.
State Control and Legal Suppression
Many governments now use legal mechanisms to suppress critical journalism. Laws on national security, defamation, or so-called “fake news” have been weaponised to arrest journalists or shut down independent outlets. For example, Orbán’s Hungary has brought much of the media under state control, while Russia and China imprison dissident journalists.
Corporate Influence and Media Consolidation
A handful of powerful corporations own vast sections of the global media. Rupert Murdoch’s empire, for instance, has helped shift political discourse to the right in multiple countries. When media ownership is concentrated, editorial independence weakens, and news becomes shaped by corporate and political interests.
Surveillance and Digital Censorship
Governments are increasingly using digital tools to track, intimidate, and silence journalists. Some regimes exploit spyware (e.g., Pegasus) to monitor dissenters. Social media algorithms, influenced by state pressure or corporate interests, also limit the reach of independent journalism.
Physical Attacks on Journalists
Violence against journalists is rising. From the murder of Jamal Khashoggi to the repression of investigative journalists in the Philippines and Mexico, those who expose corruption and state abuse are at risk. Impunity for such crimes emboldens further attacks.
Disinformation and the Undermining of Trust
The spread of disinformation, often amplified by far-right movements, weakens faith in journalism. When people distrust the press, they turn to conspiracy theories, state propaganda, or hyper-partisan sources that confirm their biases. This benefits authoritarian leaders, who thrive on controlling public perception.

The Far-Right and the Attack on Journalism

Far-right movements, in particular, see the press as a threat because it exposes their tactics—racism, xenophobia, corruption, and attacks on democracy. They rely on:

Discrediting journalists by calling them biased or untrustworthy.
Promoting alternative, hyper-partisan media that reinforce their worldview.
Using state power to restrict press freedom, such as closing media outlets or arresting critics.
Normalising misinformation so that truth itself becomes contested.

This has dangerous consequences. When the press is weakened, authoritarianism flourishes. When journalists are silenced, corruption grows. When information is controlled, democracy erodes.

The decline of press freedom, then, is a crisis for democracy. The rise of the far-right has played a central role in this trend, using legal, digital, and violent means to control information. Defending press freedom is not just about protecting journalists—it is about preserving truth, accountability, and democratic governance.

If you are interested in supporting press freedom in a number of imaginative ways, then visit https://rsf.org – Reporters Without Borders.

The contribution of photography to a counter-breeding culture change

A photographer aiming to influence debates on consumerism, climate change, population growth, and healthcare policies (like IVF funding) could use their medium to engage audiences emotionally, visually, and intellectually. Photography, with its unique ability to capture moments and evoke powerful responses, offers several strategic avenues to shape public opinion and raise awareness on these topics. Here are some approaches:

Documentary Photography

The photographer could create a series of images that document the direct effects of consumerism and climate change on the environment. For example, images of plastic waste in oceans, deforestation, and polluted urban areas could viscerally illustrate the environmental damage tied to unchecked consumption. Similarly, documenting the impact of population growth on vulnerable ecosystems, urban sprawl, and overburdened healthcare systems could emphasise the need for action.

Impact: By showing the human and environmental toll, this type of photography can raise awareness and provoke reflection on the consequences of consumerism and unsustainable population growth. Photographers like Sebastião Salgado, who have tackled environmental and social issues, have used this style to great effect.

Portrait Photography

The photographer could create a series of portraits focusing on individuals affected by these issues, such as communities impacted by climate change or families who have benefited from (or been denied access to) IVF. By humanising these complex topics, a photographer can create empathy and understanding among audiences who might otherwise find the abstract nature of the issues difficult to engage with.

Impact: Portraits that tell individual stories can shift the debate from data-driven arguments to more personal narratives, compelling viewers to reconsider their positions by connecting emotionally to the subjects.

Conceptual Photography

Conceptual photography offers another avenue by using symbolism and metaphors to comment on issues like overconsumption and environmental degradation. For example, a series that juxtaposes over-consumed products (clothing, gadgets, etc.) with images of natural resources could serve as a visual critique of consumer culture’s unsustainability. Similarly, images that explore the emotional weight of population growth—perhaps by illustrating the demands placed on the Earth through striking, staged compositions—could make the issue more accessible.

Impact: Conceptual work often encourages viewers to interpret deeper meanings and can stimulate intellectual debates by providing new ways to view familiar topics. This type of photography often resonates in art galleries, magazines, and social media.

Advocacy Campaigns and Photojournalism

By collaborating with environmental NGOs, healthcare advocates, or human rights organisations, photographers could use their work in advocacy campaigns to influence policy change. For example, a campaign highlighting the wastefulness of fast fashion could use hard-hitting photojournalism to show the lifecycle of clothing—from production to landfill.

Impact: Visual advocacy tied to concrete campaigns can be a powerful tool for changing public policy. High-profile projects, such as the work of photojournalists in publications like National Geographic or The Guardian, can help spread awareness on a broader scale.

Exhibitions and Talks

Photographers can also host exhibitions that centre around climate change, population control, or the ethics of healthcare. Accompanying the images with artist talks, panel discussions, or debates can provide a platform to explore these issues in greater depth. These exhibitions could travel through community centres, universities, and museums to engage a wide audience.

Impact: Exhibitions offer a space for reflective engagement. When paired with interactive or educational components, they can spark discussions on the issues and lead to a deeper understanding among diverse audiences.

Before-and-After Comparisons

A visual technique that can powerfully influence opinion is the “before and after” comparison. For example, photographing a location before and after significant environmental degradation due to consumer activities, or showing the strain on healthcare resources as population demands increase, can graphically represent the effects of these issues.

Impact: Before-and-after images create a stark contrast that can leave a lasting impression on viewers, driving home the urgency of action by visually demonstrating change (or destruction) over time.

Social Media Photography Projects

In today’s digital age, social media offers a platform to reach a wide and diverse audience quickly. A photographer could create a viral photography series or campaign on platforms like Instagram, using hashtags, storytelling captions, and interactive elements to provoke discussions about consumerism, climate change, or IVF.

Impact: Social media allows for rapid dissemination of images and ideas, and the photographer can directly engage with the audience in real time, fostering discussion and sharing of ideas. Well-crafted, socially relevant images on these platforms can be shared broadly, amplifying their influence.

Collaborative Projects with Researchers or Writers

By collaborating with academics, activists, or writers, a photographer can pair their visuals with hard data or narratives, enhancing the message’s effectiveness. For instance, a project that combines environmental research on climate change with a series of photographs showing the impact of extreme weather events on communities would provide both emotional and intellectual engagement.

Impact: Combining art with academic research can help ensure that visual storytelling is grounded in fact, adding credibility and depth to the message while reaching a wider audience that might be drawn in by the emotional power of the images.

Photography, then, can be a potent tool for influencing public opinion and political debate on complex issues like consumerism, climate change, population growth, and healthcare policies. By using the emotional impact of imagery, photographers can bypass intellectual resistance and provoke reflection and empathy in viewers. Whether through documentary work, conceptual art, or advocacy campaigns, photographers can foster engagement with these issues and help shape the ongoing discourse around sustainability, ethics, and human responsibility. By making abstract concepts visible and personal, photography has the power to influence how people understand and react to the pressing environmental and social challenges of our time.