By Soniya:
Global press freedom has reached a historic low, according to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders. The report evaluates 180 countries based on factors such as political environment, legal framework, economic conditions, social context, and the safety of journalists. For the first time in the index’s history, more than half of the countries fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories, reflecting a widespread decline in media freedom worldwide.
India has been ranked 157th out of 180 countries, indicating ongoing concerns about the state of press freedom. The report points to issues such as weakening legal protections, rising pressure on journalists, and the growing “criminalisation of journalism,” where laws are increasingly used to restrict reporting. India now ranks below several neighbouring countries, including Nepal and Sri Lanka, highlighting a regional contrast in media conditions.
At the global level, European nations continue to dominate the top positions, with Norway retaining the number one rank for the 10th consecutive year due to its strong institutional safeguards and journalist protections. On the other end of the spectrum, countries like Eritrea, North Korea, and China remain among the worst performers, where media operates under severe restrictions.
The report also highlights alarming global trends, including declining legal safeguards in over 60% of countries and weakening protection mechanisms for journalists in nearly 80% of nations. Overall, the 2026 index underscores that the crisis in press freedom is no longer regional but a widespread global challenge affecting democratic institutions and the free flow of information.
