The war in Ukraine remained the most pressing concern in 2024, as Ukrainian and international journalists risked their lives daily on the front lines. Media professionals, like other civilians across the country, endured the constant threat of Russian bombardments. The essential role of the media in covering conf licts was further challenged by press freedom violations amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the West Bank, and the wider Middle East. ■The results of numerous elections in Council of Europe member states, at the European level, and in the United States revealed a growing influence of illiberal and populist parties. These parties, often hostile to critical and public interest journalism, displayed this through derogatory rhetoric, legal constraints on media, and regulatory interference that undermined public service broadcasters. ■Within Europe, this report documents extensive abuses, highlighting the urgent need for wide-ranging legislative and practical reforms. ■SLAPPs and leg...