Not Censored, But Silenced: Evidence from Local Journalists in German Far-Right Strongholds

Where the far right comes to power, press freedom typically declines. Yet threats to journalism also emerge in democratic systems where far-right actors are not nationally in government but exert growing influence at the local level. This article examines how local journalists in Eastern German regions marked by strong far-right mobilization experience hostility and intimidation, and how such local dynamics affect professional autonomy. Drawing on fifteen semi-structured interviews with reporters from Saxony and Thuringia, the study highlights the local sphere as an arena in which the far right seeks to delegitimize the press and normalize antagonism. Findings reveal that hostility extends beyond extremist fringes into parts of the societal mainstream, manifesting in verbal abuse, anonymous threats, intimidation at demonstrations, and occasional physical violence. While respondents stress resilience and commitment to independent reporting, several describe anticipatory caution, topic avoidance, and other subtle constraints reinforced by structural pressures in shrinking newsrooms. The study argues that press freedom can be curtailed not only through formal censorship but also via diffuse, locally embedded forms of silencing, with significant implications for the democratic role of local journalism.