World Press Freedom Index 2022

In News

• India drop by 8 positions in the recently released World Press Freedom Index by the international journalism not-for-profit body, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

About World Press Freedom Index

• The Index has been released every year by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) since 2002.
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)is an international NGO, based in Paris which has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
• It ranks countries across the world as per the level of freedom available to journalists. Though it does not compute the quality of journalism.
• Parameters along which the Index is Made: Pluralism, media independence, media environment, self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.
• In order to reflect press freedom’s complexity, five new indicators have been inducted this year to compile the Index: the political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.

Major Findings of the Report

• Global Scenario:
  • Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Finland managed to occupy the top 5 positions in the Index respectively.
  • Russia was placed at 155th position from 150th while China improved by two positions to 175^th from 177^th last year.
  • North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of 180.
• India’s Performance: 
  • India stood at 150th position from last year’s 142nd rank out of 180 countries.
  • India’s position has been consistently falling in the index since 2016 when it was ranked 133.
  • The reasons behind the fall in the ranking are the increased “violence against journalists” and a “politically partisan media”.
• India’s Neighbours:
  • India’s neighbours’ positions have also seen a dip with Nepal being an exception. It improved its rank to reach the 76^th position from 106^th last year.

• Pakistan stood at 157th position from 145^th last year, Sri Lanka at 146^th from 127th, Bangladesh at 162^nd from 152nd and Myanmar at 176^th from 140^th.

• RSF observations: 
  • There is a two-fold increase in polarisation across the globe which is further aggravated by information chaos.
  • It mentioned media polarisation driving divisions within countries and also polarisation between nations globally.
  • It is said that democracies are being weakened by the asymmetry between open societies and despotic regimes that control the media and online platforms while waging propaganda wars against democracies.

Reasons for Dip in India’s Ranking

• Political motivation: The report mentions that Indian authorities have targeted journalists and online critics in recent times driven by political motivation.
• Wrongful prosecution: It also talked about journalists getting prosecuted under counterterrorism and sedition laws thereby cracking down on dissent.
• Threats and violence: It is said that journalists have been threatened, harassed and abused by communal forces within the country.
• Kashmir Issue: The situation in Kashmir remains “worrisome” and reporters are often harassed by police and paramilitaries.

Way Forward

• Freedom of Expression: The Indian state should respect the right to freedom of expression and freedom of media (Article 19), which is the fourth pillar of democracy.
  • However, Freedom of the press is also not absolute. It faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are as follows:
  • Matters related to in interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence
• Impartial Investigations: Concerned authorities should conduct independent and impartial investigations into allegations of threats and attacks targeting journalists and critics.
• Regulation Framework: There are disastrous effects of misinformation chaos including globalised and unregulated online information spaces that encourage fake news and propaganda. The state should have a robust regulatory framework for the same.
• Press and democracy: Freedom of the press is crucial to the functioning of a vibrant democracy hence the government should ensure its wellbeing.

Source: TH