World Press Freedom Index

Syllabus

• Prelims – Important reports and index

In News: The 20th World Press Freedom Index was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Key findings

• The index reveals a two-fold increase in polarisation amplified by information chaos – that is, media polarisation fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level.
• Within democratic societies, divisions are growing as a result of the spread of opinion media and the spread of disinformation circuits that are amplified by the way social media functions
• At the international level, democracies are being weakened by the asymmetry between open societies and despotic regimes that control their media and online platforms while waging propaganda wars against democracies.
• Polarisation on these two levels is fuelling increased tension. The invasion of Ukraine (106th) by Russia (155^th) reflects this process.
• Rise in use of legislative arsenal to confine its population and cut it off from the rest of the world, China (175^th)
• Confrontation between “blocs” are growing, for instance, for instance India (150^th) and Pakistan (157^th)
• Media polarisation is feeding and reinforcing internal social divisions in democratic societies such as the United States (42^nd )
• The trio of Nordic countries at the top of the Index – Norway(1st), Denmark and Sweden – continues to serve as a democratic model where freedom of expression flourishes
• The world’s 5 worst countries for press freedom include Myanmar (176th), Turkmenistan (177th), Iran (178th), Eritrea (179th) and North Korea (180th).

Methodology

• RSF developed a new methodology to compile the 20th World Press Freedom Index.
• The new methodology defines press freedom as “the effective possibility for journalists, as individuals and as groups, to select, produce and disseminate news and information in the public interest, independently from political, economic, legal and social interference, and without threats to their physical and mental safety.”
• In order to reflect press freedom’s complexity, five new indicators are now used to compile the Index: the political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.

Performance of India

• India has slipped 8 places on the World Press Freedom Index 2022
• With a global score of 41, India has gone down to the 150th position from 142 last year.

Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q.1) “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following? (2018)

1. Amnesty International
2. International Court of Justice
3. The Office Of UN Commissioner for Human Rights
4. World Justice Project