List of Top 10 Safest and 10 Worst Countries For Journalists; Check India Rank

Decades have seen the Fourth Pillar of Democracy, the Press, wield significant influence in the coverage of contentious issues and events. Vital for democracy, press freedom safeguards the fundamental right to express oneself.

However, the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), reveals a disquieting trend: political authorities, who should be its staunchest defenders, pose a threat to press freedom worldwide. An escalating number of governments and political entities are neglecting their duty to foster an optimal environment for journalism, hindering the public's access to dependable, impartial, and diverse news and information. RSF observes a troubling erosion in support and reverence for media independence, coupled with mounting pressure from the state and other political entities.

Norway is the safest country for journalists while as country of Eritrea in the African continent is the worst in regards to freedom of the press.

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10 Safest Countries For Journalists

The overarching downturn in the political sphere has left its mark on the triumvirate leading the World Press Freedom Index. Despite maintaining its top position, Norway has experienced a decline in its political rating. Ireland, positioned at 8th, has relinquished its premier status within the European Union to Denmark, now occupying 2nd place, closely trailed by Sweden in 3rd. Ireland's descent is attributed to instances of judicial intimidation orchestrated by politicians against media establishments. Here is the list:

Across the board, nations where press freedom thrives are predominantly situated in Europe, notably within the European Union, which has enacted its inaugural media freedom law, EMFA. Notably, Ireland has slipped from the Index's top three positions, supplanted by Sweden. Furthermore, Germany has ascended to the ranks of the top ten countries in terms of press freedom.

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10 Worst Countries For Journalists

Amidst the backdrop of the forthcoming 2024 elections, notable electoral events unfolded in 2023, marking a pivotal moment in global history. Particularly in Latin America, decisive elections took place, resulting in victories for individuals who openly oppose press freedom and media diversity. A great example is Javier Milei in Argentina, whose ascendancy led to a concerning decline in press freedom, evident in the country's significant drop from 26th to 66th place in the Press Freedom Index. Milei's actions, such as the closure of Argentina's largest news agency, underscore the gravity of the situation. Here is the list:

The trio of Asian nations that previously occupied the bottom positions in last year's Index—Vietnam, China, and North Korea—have now been replaced by three countries experiencing significant declines in their political standings. Afghanistan, having plummeted by 44 ranks in the political hierarchy, stands out for its relentless persecution of journalists since the resurgence of the Taliban regime. Syria, down eight ranks politically, and Eritrea, down nine ranks, now occupy the lowest positions in both political and overall rankings. These nations have devolved into lawless territories for the press, witnessing a surge in the number of journalists detained, missing, or held captive.

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Where does India Stand In the Ranking?

In ‘the world's largest democracy,’ a term often attributed to India, press freedom faces a severe crisis marked by instances of violence against journalists, highly concentrated media ownership, and political affiliations. Since 2014, the nation has been governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the prominent figurehead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and emblem of the Hindu nationalist right. These factors have contributed to India's dismal ranking, placing it in the 159th position with an overall score of 31.28.

The report mentions, “Freedom of the press is not mentioned as such in the constitution, but it is protected by the right to freedom of expression. However, governments have never shied away from using colonial-era laws, such as those relating to sedition, defamation and anti-state activities, to suppress the media. Anti-terrorism laws are increasingly used against journalists. The main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, and other regional parties have also used legal provisions against journalists for intimidation purposes and as retaliation. Modi has introduced several new laws that will give the government extraordinary power to control the media, censor news and silence critics, including the 2023 Telecommunications Act, the 2023 draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, and the 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection Act.”

The rankings provided stem from the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by RSF, which draws its conclusions from the assessment of five key indicators: Political context, Legal framework, Economic context, Sociocultural context, and Safety. Notably, it is the political indicator that has experienced the most significant decline, with a global average decrease of 7.6 points.

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