Norway again tops the press freedom index. But Reporters Without Borders is concerned about declining election scores.
On Press Freedom Day, 3 May, the annual Press Freedom Index was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
For the eighth year in a row, Norway tops the index. Norway ends this year with 91.89 points, compared to 95.18 points the previous year. Among other things, we have received a lower score on the legislative indicator.
Like last year, only eight countries can show such a high score for press freedom in the country that they are marked as green.
The media survey: Fewer Norwegians trust the news media
The index is measured according to five indicators, political, economic, legislative, social and security.
RSF writes that it is especially the political indicator that has fallen, with an average drop of 7.6 points.
As more than half of the world’s population goes to the polls in 2024, RSF warns of the worrying trend, they write.
“States and other political forces play an increasingly smaller role in protecting press freedom. This disempowerment sometimes goes hand in hand with more hostile actions that undermine the role of journalists, or even instrumentalize the media through campaigns of harassment or disinformation. », writes RSF.
Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap), tells NTB that politicians have a special responsibility to protect the freedom of the press.
– Although Norway is still ranked highest on the index that shows the state of press freedom around the world, it is disturbing that we score worse than last year on the political part of the index. We have to take a closer look at what is causing it, says Gharahkhani.
Norwegian editors and journalists agree
They point out that elections are often accompanied by violence against journalists, and refer to countries such as Niger and Burkina Faso, which have both fallen far on this year’s index. RSF also writes that Erdogan’s re-election in Turkey is a concern. Turkey ends up in 158th place this year.
– The index confirms what we know – that it is very dangerous to be a journalist in vulnerable areas of the world. We have a moral responsibility to highlight the importance of the free press both at home and when we talk to our colleagues in other countries, says Parliament President Gharahkhani.
RSF writes that the war in Gaza has been characterized by a record number of violations against journalists and the media since October 2023 and points out that more than 100 Palestinian reporters have been killed by Israel’s defense forces, including at least 22 in the course of their work.
This year, Palestine came in 157th place on the list.
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