World Press Freedom Index 2024
India’s placement at 159th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), highlights ongoing concerns about journalistic freedom in the country. While there’s a slight improvement from the previous rank of 161, the challenges persist, signaling the need for concerted efforts to safeguard press freedom.
The index, which evaluates countries based on journalists’ freedom and independence to work and report, provides a sobering overview of press freedom worldwide. In the Asia-Pacific region, where journalism faces significant hurdles, no country made it to the top 15. This trend underscores the pervasive challenges to press freedom in the region, with countries like Myanmar, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan ranking among the most dangerous for media personnel.
South Asia, including India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, grapples with its own set of press freedom challenges. Despite being democracies, these countries struggle to ensure journalists’ ability to work independently without interference. Pakistan’s marginally higher ranking at 152nd place compared to India’s highlights the complexities within the region.
The Middle East and North Africa also face persistent press freedom concerns, with countries like Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria experiencing very serious situations. The European Union, on the other hand, presents a contrasting picture, with several countries boasting good press freedom. However, challenges remain, particularly in countries like Hungary, Malta, and Greece.
The global trends revealed by the index are alarming, with a worrying decline in the political indicator, indicating a failure to protect press freedom by states and political forces. The rise of artificial intelligence poses additional threats, with deepfakes being used in disinformation campaigns, further complicating the media landscape.
Furthermore, journalists covering environmental stories face significant risks, with 44 journalists killed in the past 15 years while reporting on environmental issues. This underscores the dangers associated with reporting on critical global issues and emphasizes the need to protect journalists working in these areas.
India’s rank in the World Press Freedom Index serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in the country. As press freedom remains under threat globally, concerted efforts are required to safeguard the fundamental right to freedom of expression and ensure journalists can work without fear of reprisal.
