Published annually since 2002 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the World Press Freedom Index is a significant advocacy tool influencing governments worldwide. It serves as a reference for media, diplomats, and international organizations like the UN and World Bank. Many heads of state and government fear its annual publication.
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index reveals that press freedom is under significant threat globally, with political authorities failing to protect journalism. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) highlights a concerning decline in the political indicator, showing a global drop of 7.6 points. This trend indicates a lack of support and respect for media autonomy, with increasing pressure and hostile actions from the state and other political actors, including harassment and disinformation campaigns against journalists.
Internationally, there is a notable lack of political will to enforce protections for journalists, as evidenced by the numerous violations against journalists in conflict zones like Gaza. Palestine, for example, ranks near the bottom of the Index in terms of journalist safety. Additionally, the year 2024, marked by major elections worldwide, sees intensified violence and repression against journalists, particularly in regions with authoritarian regimes and military juntas. Countries like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and those in the Sahel region have witnessed significant declines in press freedom.
Furthermore, the use of generative AI for political disinformation and increased government control over social media and the internet pose new challenges for journalism. Countries such as Vietnam and China exemplify extreme measures of censorship and journalist detention. The overall global decline in press freedom is most pronounced in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia-Pacific, where political violence and authoritarian practices severely hinder journalistic activities. In contrast, Europe, despite some setbacks, still houses countries with relatively high press freedom standards, driven by new media freedom laws in the European Union.
To read the complete 2024 World Press Freedom Index, click here.