India, May 3 -- World Press Freedom Day 2026 arrives at a time when global journalism is under mounting pressure-from legal intimidation and imprisonment of reporters to economic stress and rising political hostility toward independent media. Recent global assessments highlight a continuing decline in press freedom conditions across many countries, reinforcing the need to understand how journalism functions in today's digital and political landscape.

Against this backdrop, books on journalism and free expression offer crucial insight into how media systems are changing-and why press freedom remains central to democracy.

7 Must-Read Books on Journalism

Here are 7 essential books that explore journalism, free speech, and media freedom in...