With the November 3 midterm elections just days away, the stakes are high. Regardless of the outcome, President Donald Trump will remain in office for another two years, and there is reason to be concerned that journalists and news organizations will face even greater pressure in the months ahead.

We've already seen troubling developments. In September, President Trump barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. Although a federal judge has ordered their access restored while a lawsuit proceeds, restrictions on their participation in White House press pool activities have continued. More recently, Trump has suggested moving the White House press corps out of the building altogether.

This follows a series of controversies in 2025 that raised concerns about political pressure on the media, including ABC's temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel following criticism from the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and CBS's decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a frequent critic of President Trump.

For journalists who have worked in countries where governments have systematically undermined independent media, these developments are worth paying attention to. They know how restrictions on press freedom can begin with seemingly isolated incidents, gradually becoming more widespread and difficult to challenge.

That's why we brought together three Russian journalists who have experienced these pressures firsthand. Ekaterina Kotrikadze of TV Rain, Mikhail Rubin of Proekt, and Lola Tagaeva of Verstka have all continued their work from exile after facing government intimidation, restrictions and efforts to silence independent reporting in Russia.

During our October 13 briefing, they shared what they have learned, the warning signs American journalists should be watching for and the steps newsrooms can take now to protect themselves, their sources and their ability to report freely.

Here are five lessons from our conversation:

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1. Recognize the Warning Signs Before They Become the Norm

Restrictions on press freedom rarely happen overnight. They often begin with smaller actions, such as limiting access, targeting individual reporters or discrediting news organizations. What may seem like isolated incidents can gradually become accepted practice.

For American journalists, it's important to recognize these patterns early and push back before restrictions become the norm.

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2. Solidarity Is One of the Press's Strongest Defenses

Journalism is a competitive business. News organizations compete for audiences, sources, exclusives and influence. But when press freedom is threatened, competition cannot come at the expense of solidarity.

Throughout our conversation, the importance of standing together emerged as a central theme. Governments seeking to weaken independent journalism benefit when media organizations are divided, particularly when attacks against one outlet are met with silence from others.

Solidarity does not require journalists to agree with one another's editorial decisions, political perspectives or reporting. It means recognizing that defending another outlet's right to report is ultimately a defense of everyone's ability to do the same.

We've already seen examples of collective action in the United States. Following the White House's decision to revoke access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, other news organizations challenged the restrictions and took steps to support their colleagues. These moments matter.

Whether through public statements, legal challenges, shared resources or simply refusing to normalize the exclusion of fellow journalists, collective action can make it harder to isolate individual reporters and news organizations.

The message from our speakers was clear. Solidarity is most valuable when it comes before a crisis, not after.

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3. Make Security and Preparation Part of Everyday Journalism

For journalists reporting under authoritarian pressure, security is not an afterthought. It is part of the job. That includes protecting sources, securing sensitive information, understanding digital vulnerabilities and preparing for the possibility of intimidation or surveillance.

While the risks facing journalists differ significantly across countries and reporting environments, preparation remains essential. Newsrooms should regularly review their security practices, train staff on protecting sensitive communications and establish clear protocols for responding to threats or restrictions on access.

These conversations should also extend beyond reporters. Editors, producers, communications professionals and others who handle sensitive information have a role to play in protecting the integrity of the reporting process. The time to develop these safeguards is before they are urgently needed.

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4. Public Trust Is Essential to Independent Journalism

Journalists cannot defend press freedom through institutional protections alone. They also need the trust of the people they serve. That trust is especially important when political leaders attempt to discredit independent reporting or portray journalists as adversaries. Our speakers' experiences underscore the importance of continuing to produce accurate, credible journalism, even when doing so becomes increasingly difficult.

Building public trust does not mean avoiding difficult stories or softening scrutiny of those in power. It means demonstrating, consistently, that journalism is grounded in facts, transparency and a commitment to informing the public. It also means helping audiences understand why independent reporting matters, particularly when journalists themselves become targets of political attacks.

For those working in communications, there is an important lesson here as well. How we communicate, verify information and engage with the public can either reinforce trust or contribute to its erosion. Independent journalism is strongest when audiences understand not only what reporters uncover, but why their ability to ask difficult questions matters.

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5. Don't Wait Until Press Freedom Is Lost to Defend It

Perhaps the most important takeaway from our conversation was the need to act early.

Journalists who have experienced authoritarian pressure know how quickly the environment for independent reporting can change, and how difficult it can be to rebuild protections once they have been weakened. But defending press freedom is not solely the responsibility of journalists.

Media organizations, civil society groups, legal advocates, communications professionals and the public all have a role to play. That can mean challenging restrictions on access, supporting independent outlets, speaking out when journalists face intimidation or helping communities understand the consequences of attacks on the free press.

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The Time to Defend Press Freedom Is Now

At STROIKA, we believe people confronting authoritarianism have valuable lessons to share across borders, movements and institutions. That is why we brought these journalists together.

Their experiences in Russia are not a prediction of what will happen in the United States. But they offer an important reminder that press freedom should never be taken for granted.

As Americans prepare to vote in the midterm elections, the ability of journalists to report freely, question those in power and provide the public with independent information is especially important. The lessons from our conversation extend well beyond November 3.

Protecting independent journalism requires vigilance, preparation, public trust and solidarity. Above all, it requires recognizing that defending press freedom is not just about protecting journalists. It is about protecting the public's right to know.

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Watch the full STROIKA media briefing: Ahead of Midterms, Journalists Share Lessons for Covering Elections Under Growing Press Pressure

Featuring Ekaterina Kotrikadze of TV Rain, Mikhail Rubin of Proekt and Lola Tagaeva of Verstka. Moderated by STROIKA co-founders Yelena V. Litvinov and Tatyana Margolin.