The World Press Freedom Index 2023, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), evaluates the level of press freedom in 180 countries and territories. The Index considers political, economic, legal, and sociocultural factors that affect journalists and media outlets.
Key Highlights:
- Top Performers:
- Norway continues to rank first, maintaining its position as the country with the highest level of press freedom for the seventh consecutive year.
- Other top-ranking countries include Ireland (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Sweden (4th), and Finland (5th).
- Lowest Performers:
- North Korea ranks last at 180th, followed by China (179th), Vietnam (178th), Iran (177th), and Turkmenistan (176th). These countries are noted for severe restrictions on press freedom, censorship, and persecution of journalists.
- Significant Changes:
- India has seen a significant decline, dropping 11 places to 161st due to increasing control over media by oligarchs close to the government.
- Russia fell nine places to 164th, primarily due to the suppression of independent media following the invasion of Ukraine.
- Brazil improved by 18 places to 92nd after changes in government that favored media freedom.
- Regional Insights:
- No countries in the Middle East and Maghreb region were rated as having “satisfactory” press freedom. Most countries in this region are marked as having “very serious” issues.
- In the Americas, the overall score has worsened, with Costa Rica dropping from the “good” category due to political challenges.
- Global Trends:
- The Index highlights the increasing threats from political actors using disinformation and propaganda, with 118 countries reporting significant involvement of political actors in manipulating information.
The report underscores the growing challenges faced by journalists worldwide, including threats, imprisonment, and violence. It serves as a crucial tool for understanding and improving the conditions under which journalists operate globally.
For more detailed information, you can access the full report here (Al Jazeera) (Press Gazette)