Five stories illustrating the ongoing global repression of the press
In 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists recorded 330 journalists imprisoned worldwide for their reporting, maintaining one of the highest levels in decades. Detention remains a persistent tool to control information, with many journalists held without trial or subjected to harsh and prolonged sentences.
The report notes widespread mistreatment in detention, including abuse, isolation, and denial of medical care. A significant portion of journalists were never given a fair trial, and many were charged under vague “anti-state” laws that criminalize ordinary journalistic work.
The countries with the highest numbers of incarcerated journalists include China, Myanmar, Israel, and Russia, with additional cases reported in Belarus, Azerbaijan, and parts of Africa and the Middle East.
Gianluca Costantini’s illustrations accompany the stories of several journalists highlighted in the report: Shadi Salah Abu Sido, Belay Manaye, Cheng Lei, Victor Ticay, and Vladislav Yesypenko.
Shadi Salah Abu Sido – A Palestinian journalist detained in Israel while working as a cameraman during military operations. He spent over 20 months in detention without formal charges and faced mistreatment, exemplifying the precarious situation of journalists in conflict zones.
Belay Manaye – Represents journalists in Africa who are targeted under anti-terrorism or security legislation. His case reflects broader patterns of repression, where reporting on political or social issues can lead to arbitrary detention.
Cheng Lei – An Australian journalist detained in China under allegations related to national security. Her case illustrates the risks faced by foreign correspondents reporting in authoritarian contexts, where legal charges can be used to suppress independent journalism.
Victor Ticay – A journalist in Latin America affected by politically motivated prosecutions. Many journalists in the region face criminal charges tied to their investigative work, often unrelated to legitimate press activities.
Vladislav Yesypenko – A Ukrainian journalist detained by Russian authorities in Crimea. Arrested while documenting daily life under occupation, he spent years in prison under contested charges, highlighting the dangers for journalists in conflict or annexed territories.
The report emphasizes that nearly half of incarcerated journalists have never been formally convicted, while more than a third of those convicted face sentences longer than five years. Arbitrary detention and vague charges are common, directly undermining press freedom.
Costantini’s illustrations are not simply portraits; they are visual testimonies. Each face represents an individual case within a global system of state repression, administrative detention, closed trials, and threats to journalism. Through these images, the report’s statistics are humanized, showing the personal stakes behind the numbers.
