The New Censorship

An essential wake up call for anyone who cares about healthy democracies - and the media’s role in creating and sustaining them – Alan Rusbridger, author of Breaking NewsAyala puts the public’s right to know at the heart of her argument. And she shows that failure ‘to know’ can, literally, kill you. […] Her arguments are profound, compelling, and fascinating. And as ever, I read her words with awe, and a deep gratitude I can call her my inspiration - but also, my friend. – Emily Maitlis, The News AgentsDon’t miss this fascinating, rivetingly written book! – Arash Azizi, The AtlanticAyala Panievsky’s new book is exceptional. It’s almost the only text that delves into the question of what journalists can actually do to better deal with populists - and to my great surprise, it will be as compelling to journalists’ viewers and listeners. – Michael Hauser-Tov, HaaretzThe New Censorship is a thoughtful, well-researched and compellingly personal analysis of the playbook for tyranny. As Ayala Panievsky makes clear, the media is far too often complicit in its own destruction, largely by treating the destabilizing propaganda of right-wing regimes as legitimate press. That failure to recognize and counter an existential challenge has grave consequences for more than one nation. – James LaRue author of On CensorshipPanievsky’s book is an important, necessary, masterful study of how anti-democratic movements persecute and censor media dissent, and how journalists respond to attacks. With original insights and lively writing, the book closely examines common threads across countries, and delivers a persuasive argument on how the ‘new censorship’ works. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the multiple challenges that contemporary journalism confronts. – Professor Silvio Waisbord, former president of the International Communication AssociationThis book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the biggest threats to journalism today - the rise of media censorship, authoritarianism and the political battle for control. With detailed research and personal understanding, The New Censorship makes these enormously important challenges accessible to everyone, not just journalists and students, but anyone who cares about our right to know – Jane Martinson, The GuardianA necessary and unflinching exposé of how authoritarians are stealing our right to know and a guide on how to take it back. Panievsky blends personal experience with novel research findings to show how authoritarian movements across the world are using the same playbook to hijack the media whilst portraying themselves as victims. The New Censorship is a story of how power and money have coerced journalists to self-censor and unwittingly amplify misinformation. – Luke Kemp

Ayala Panievsky is a researcher and former journalist specializing in populism, media under attack, and democratic backsliding. She is based at City, St George’s University of London.

Panievsky holds a PhD from Cambridge University, which has received numerous accolades, including the ICA Outstanding Dissertation Award and the AEJMC Best Dissertation Award. Her doctoral work has also garnered significant attention from prominent journalists and thinkers internationally.

She collaborates with newsrooms globally to shape the future of news and information dissemination in an era of complex threats to democracy. Her impactful research has been featured in various media outlets, including the BBC, The News Agents, The Wall Street Journal, LBC, Mother Jones, and Politico.

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