Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2025

by Mickey Huff (editor), Andy Lee Roth (editor), Shealeigh Voitl (editor)

Highlighting the year’s most significant independent journalism—including reports on toxic chemicals, climate disinformation, and union victories—Project Censored’s State of the Free Press 2025 illuminates issues and raises voices that the establishment press have throttled.State of the Free Press 2025 shows how independent journalism can promote civic engagement and reconnect people who have otherwise lost interest in sensational “news” that distracts and polarizes us.Balancing critical analysis with optimistic vision, the book’s diverse contributors champion press freedom and critical media literacy to hold the powerful accountable and promote a more just and inclusive society.State of the Free Press 2025 is a joint production of The Censored Press and Seven Stories Press.

304 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2024

Reviews

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for 2025…..

[Shealeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

First-time co-editor! If you care about press freedom, independent journalism, and democracy, pick up your copy today. 🤝

[Jeff Przybylo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this series for 30 years. I look forward to it every year. The top censored stories of the year are always fascinating and sometimes disturbing. This year is no exception. I only gave this four stars because the following chapters get a little wonky and repetitive. Still interesting without a doubt. Disinformation still exists and we’re still not exactly sure what to do about it.

[Ryan Hyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know 80 percent of people apprehended for smuggling fentanyl into the U.S. are not migrants crossing the border illegally, but American citizens?

I did not, until I read Project Censored’s State of the Free Press 2025.

This annual collection includes many of the year’s important but least reported news stories. Topics I found especially interesting related to:

* the toxicity of household gas-burning appliances
* the ‘thirst-trap’ sexualization of online military recruitment influencers
* efforts to censor reporting on the Gaza genocide

In addition to the rollout of its under-reported news stories, Project Censored’s book includes follow-ups on their previously published reports—a thread of consistent analysis I found often lacking in the media overall.

Finally, the collection includes in-depth analysis of the media itself. A favorite of mine is the essay, “Just Barbie Girls in a Corporate Media World: Saying Kenough to Patriarchal Junk Food News.” Insightful? Yes, but also well written and very entertaining.

For those who take democracy and media literacy issues to heart, I highly recommend checking out Project Censored’s State of the Free Press 2025. Full of perspective.