APNEC’s characterisation of the government’s decision to withhold advertisements from a specific newspaper as an “attack on livelihoods” and “freedom of expression” rests on a deeply flawed premise: that government advertising is an entitlement essential for the survival of media. This assumption is neither economically sound nor consistent with the principles of media independence that APNEC itself claims to defend. Globally, leading newspapers have long recognised that financial dependence on the state undermines both credibility and autonomy.

The New York Times and The Washington Post derive an overwhelming share of their revenue from subscriptions, private advertising, events and digital products, not government advertising. Their ability to investigate, criticise and hold governments to account is strengthened precisely because their survival does not hinge on state patronage. Similarly, The Guardian operates on a reader-supported trust model that deliberately insulates editorial decision-making from both government and corporate pressure.

In Europe, major outlets such as Le Monde in France, El País in Spain, and Süddeutsche Zeitung in Germany have transitioned toward subscription-led and diversified revenue models, treating government........

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