Matt Walsh,(Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University / Prifysgol)

The RSF hashtag World hashtag Press hashtag Freedom Index has been released for 2025 and the hashtag#UK has risen slightly to 20th.

On the face of it good news, there’s pressure to introduce anti-SLAPP legislation and the long running imprisonment of Julian hashtag#Assange has finally been resolved.

But the UK’s climb is more the result of a global decline in press freedom than an improvement here. hashtag Police surveillance of hashtag#journalists, courts ruling in favour of privacy above freedom of expression, and the targeting of journalists during riots in summer 2024 have all been raised as worries. And there are still ongoing concerns around the concentration of ownership and the weak financial underpinnings of the industry.

There remains much work to do to ensure journalists are free to do their work without threats of censorship, repression or harassment.