India has ranked 142nd yet again out of 180 nations in the recently unveiled World Press Freedom Index. The index is published each year by the international journalism not-for-profit body, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
- Norway topped the index for the fifth year in a row.
- The report labelled 132 countries as “very bad”, “bad” or “problematic”.
- It stated that the pandemic was used as means to deny journalists this access and promote government-sponsored propaganda regarding the Covid-19 outbreak.
About the World Press Freedom Index
- It has been published every year since 2002 by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders.
- Based in Paris, RSF is an independent NGO with consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).
- OIF is a 54 french speaking nations collective.
- The Index ranks countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to journalists. However it is not an indicator on the quality of journalism.
- The parameters include pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.
Global Scenario
- Journalism, the main vaccine against disinformation, is completely or partly blocked in 73% of the 180 countries.
- Only 12 of the Index’s 180 countries (7%) can claim to offer a favourable environment for journalism.
- Covid-19 pandemic has been used to perfection by nations to control the spread of information.
- The Report has raised concern about the larger Asia-Pacific region as several nations in an attempt to curb freedom of press have in place draconian laws on ‘sedition,’ ‘state secrets’ and ‘national security’.
- Norway has topped yet again for the fifth year in the row, followed by Finland and Denmark.
- Eritrea is at the bottom meanwhile China is ranked 177, and is only above North Korea at 179 and Turkmenistan at 178.
India’s Performance
- India remained at the 142nd position among 180 countries.
- India was ranked 142 in the year 2020 as well, thus showing no improvement in the environment it provides to its journalists.
- India has fared poorly amongst its neighbours with Nepal at 106, Sri Lanka at 127 and Bhutan at 65. Pakistan is a close follower at 145th spot.
- India is among the countries classified “bad” for journalism and is termed as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their jobs properly.
- The report has blamed an environment of intimidation created by the nationalist government for any critical journalist often brandishing them as anti state or anti national.
- India drew flak for “extremely violent social media hate campaigns” against journalists who “dare to criticise” the government.
- The situation is worrying in Kashmir, where incidents of harassment of reporters by police and paramilitaries have surfaced.
Reasons Behind India’s Poor Performance
- Journalists are exposed to various kinds of attack, including police violence against reporters, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials.
- The journalists have often been subjected to coordinated hate campaigns on social networks. Such campaigns are particularly violent when the targets are women.
- Further, it said that criminal prosecutions are meanwhile “often used to gag journalists critical of the authorities” with sections for sedition also used.
- “While the pro-government media pump out a form of propaganda, journalists who dare to criticise the government are branded as “anti-state,” “anti-national” or even “pro-terrorist” by supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” said the latest report.
- Governments use innovative practices often derived from marketing to impose their own narrative within the mainstream media, whose publishers are from the same elite as the politicians
- Politicians and activists wage a merciless war on several fronts against reporters and media outlets that don’t toe the official line.
- Corporate ownership of media, ties of business tycoons with ruling elite, easy access to government resources and perks as well as influence in the country are the various carrots used by the governments to stifle free speech and buy the media.
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