NEW YORK — The global landscape for press freedom remains under severe strain, according to the latest annual prison census released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on January 21, 2026. While the total number of journalists behind bars saw a slight decline from the record-breaking high of 2024, the findings reveal a “stubbornly high” baseline of 330 incarcerated media workers—marking the fifth consecutive year that the count has exceeded 300.
“Autocracies and democracies alike are locking up journalists to quash dissent,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “Every journalist jailed is a blow to the public’s right to know.”
The World’s Worst Offenders
Asia remains the most dangerous region for journalists, accounting for one-third of all incarcerations. China continues its three-year streak as the world’s leading jailer, maintaining a total of 50 journalists behind bars, including high-profile figures in Hong Kong. Following closely is Myanmar, where the military junta has intensified its crackdown, rising to the second-worst position with 30 journalists in custody.
| Rank | Country | Journalists Jailed | Notable Trend |
| 1 | China | 50 | Extensive use of anti-state charges. |
| 2 | Myanmar | 30 | Deteriorating media environment post-2021 coup. |
| 3 | Israel | 29 | All detained are Palestinian journalists. |
| 4 | Russia | 27 | Retaliatory arrests linked to war coverage. |
| 5 | Belarus | 25 | Systematic silencing of independent voices. |
A Culture of Mistreatment
The 2025 census paints a grim picture of life behind bars. Nearly one-third of imprisoned journalists reported experiencing mistreatment, with 20% providing claims of torture or beatings. Historically, Iran, Israel, and Egypt have shown the highest incidence of such abuse.
Furthermore, the legal landscape is increasingly rigged:
- Anti-State Charges: Roughly 61% of all jailed journalists face charges of terrorism, extremism, or “spreading false news.”
- Indefinite Detention: Nearly 49% of those in the census have not been convicted of any crime and are awaiting sentencing—often languishing for years without due process.
- Lengthy Sentences: For those convicted, over 37% are serving terms of five years or longer.
Emerging Hotspots and Erasure
The report notably highlights Azerbaijan, which nearly doubled its number of imprisoned journalists to 24 in 2025, joining the top ten jailers for the first time since 2018. Meanwhile, in Africa, Eritrea remains a “black hole” for information, holding 16 journalists who have been in custody for over two decades with no update on their health or whereabouts.
Despite these harrowing figures, 2025 saw the release of 116 journalists, providing small glimpses of hope. However, press freedom advocates warn that as authoritarianism and armed conflicts escalate, the “digital and physical cage” surrounding independent reporting is only becoming more reinforced.
Global Conference for Media Freedom, Wikimedia Picture by Foreign and Commonwealth Office
