The World Press Freedom Index 2022 was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on World Press Freedom Day i.e., on 3rd May 2022. This was the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index.
The 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories.
» The 20th World Press Freedom Index reveals a two-fold increase in polarisation amplified by information chaos – that is, media polarisation fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level.
Ranking of India in World Press Freedom Index 2022:
» India has been ranked 150th among the 180 countries.
India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has fallen down to 150th position from last year’s 142nd rank out of 180 countries.
» India’s ranking, as per the report, fell on the back of increased “violence against journalists” and a “politically partisan media”.
Ranking of India’s Neighboring Countries:
Nepal 76th, Pakistan 157th, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd, China 175th, and Myanmar 176th
Top and Bottom Countries:
- Norway (1st), Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) are on top.
- North Korea (180th) remains at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories.
- Other Bottom Countries: Turkmenistan (177th), Iran (178th), Eritrea (179th)
» Russia was ranked at 155th position.
Methodology used in World Press Freedom Index 2022:
The ranking of the Index is based on a score ranging from 0 to 100 that is assigned to each country or territory.
- 100 being the best possible score (the highest possible level of press freedom) and 0 the worst
This score is calculated on the basis of two components:
- a quantitative tally of abuses against journalists in connection with their work, and against media outlets;
- a qualitative analysis of the situation in each country or territory based on the responses of press freedom specialists (including journalists, researchers, academics and human rights defenders) to an RSF questionnaire available in 23 languages.
Each country or territory’s score is evaluated using five contextual indicators that reflect the press freedom situation in all of its complexity:
- Political context
- Legal framework
- Economic context
- Sociocultural context
- Safety
Background:
- The World Press Freedom Index has been published every year since 2002 by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders.
- Reporters Without Borders is an international non-profit organisation governed by principles of democratic governance. It was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
- Recognised as a public interest organisation in France since 1995, RSF has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF).