"Economic return: Investigative journalism delivers strong returns. Every US$1 spent on journalism can result in more than $100 in savings to the public through reclaimed funds, improved public services and reduced corruption. Media freedom supports economic growth. A study of 97 countries has shown a 1-2 per cent reduction in real GDP growth associated with declining press freedom. Disinformation costs societies an estimated US$350–500 billion each year. Independent journalism is one of the most effective and evidence-based defences against it.
Security: While governments routinely invest billions in military, cyber and border security, information insecurity is increasingly one of the most significant threats to democratic stability. In 2026, the World Economic Forum ranked disinformation as the second most pressing global risk. Supporting independent journalism offers a comparatively low-cost opportunity: experts estimate that 0.1 percent of global GDP – equivalent to just 15 days of global military spending – could fund healthy public media and secure information environments for citizens around the world. Media freedom dramatically reduces the likelihood of conflict, repression, and human rights violations. A study of 152 countries associated greater access to free media with a reduction in human rights abuses.
Crises and disaster: News coverage has been shown to dramatically increase the size and speed of international humanitarian response and save lives. A study of more than 2,300 disasters showed that a single news story in the New York Times generated an additional half a million US dollars in official aid." (Headline figures)