World Press Freedom index 2021

World Press Freedom Index 2021

When Released: 20^th April 2021

Who Released: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) a  French NGO.

Head office:  Paris  France.

INDIA Rank: 142  (Out of 180 Countries). India was kept the same rank in 2020 too

World press freedom index – Top Five Ranks in 2021

1st Rank: Norway
2nd Rank: Finland
3rd Rank: Sweden
4th Rank: Denmark
5th Rank: Costa Rica

World press freedom index  – Bottom Five Ranks in 2021

176th Rank: Djibouti
177th Rank: China
178th Rank: Turkmenistan
179th Rank: North Korea
180th Rank: Eritrea

India Neighbours Countries Rank of World press freedom index in 2021

106th Rank: Nepal
127th Rank: Sri Lanka
140th Rank: Myanmar
145th Rank: Pakistan
177th Rank: China
152nd Rank: Bangladesh
72nd Rank: Maldives

About Reporter Without Borders (RSF) :

RSF is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) Based in Paris. RFS has consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). RFS follows the guidance of article 19 Of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

• • OIF is a 54 French-speaking nation’s collective.

UDHR: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that manifests the rights and freedoms of all human beings. It was accepted by the General Assembly as Resolution 217 during its third session on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. At that time the 58 members of the United Nations, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained, and two did not vote.

• • Palais de Chaillot : The Palais de Chaillot is a building at the top of the Chaillot hill in the Trocadéro area in Paris France

1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers”

RFS describes its policy as the belief that everyone requires access to the news and information. The aim of this NGO  is to safeguard the right to Freedom of Information.

About World Press Freedom Index :

The World Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders since 2002. It is based on the organization’s (RFS) own assessment of the countries press freedom records in the previous year.

The World Press Freedom Index is an important advocacy tool based on the principle of emulation between states.

• Press freedom: – Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely.

Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through the constitution or other legal protection and security.

World Press Freedom Index 2021 in Global Scenario :

Key facts :

• World freedom index report prepared by RSF by Evaluating 180 countries Worldwide.
• Journalism, the main vaccine against disinformation, is completely or partially blocked in 73% of the 180 countries.
• Only 12 countries in the Indexes of 180 countries (7%) can claim to offer a favourable environment for journalism.
• Europe and the Americas (North, Central, and South) continue to be the most favourable continents for press freedom
• The report has raised concerns about the Asia-Pacific region that saw the greatest rise in press freedom violations.
• The Middle East and North Africa continue to be the world’s most dangerous region for journalists.
• Norway is on top in the index for the fifth consecutive year Followed by Finland 2^nd, Sweden 3^rd, Denmark 4th,  Costa Rica 5th.
• Eritrea is at the bottom position 180th,  China is ranked 177, and is only above North Korea at 179 and Turkmenistan at 178.

Analysis in Context of India :

• India  Rank is 142nd this year and It is the same as the previous year 2020. Thus It is showing no improvements in India for its journalists.
• India is among the countries identified as “bad” for journalism and termed as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their jobs properly.
• India has fared poorly amongst its neighbours with Nepal is at 106, Sri Lanka at 127, Myanmar (before the coup) at 140, Pakistan at 145 and Bangladesh at 152.
• For India the report has blamed an environment of intimidation created by the Nationalist Government for any critical journalist, Often they are marked as “anti-state” or “anti-national”.
• The report also showing Concerns that The situation is still very worrying in Kashmir, where reporters are often harassed by police and paramilitaries.

How did the World Press Freedom Index get prepared?

In 180 countries, the degree of freedom available to journalists is determined by pooling the responses of experts to a questionnaire that is Invent by the RSF. This qualitative analysis is combined with quantitative data on abuses and acts of violence against journalists during the period evaluated.

About the Questionnaire :

An online questionnaire has been developed by the RSF to compile the Index and it consists of 87 questions that are focused on the below-mentioned parameters. It is translated into 20 languages including English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Indonesian and Korean, etc.

The questionnaire targeted media professionals, lawyers, and sociologists who are asked to complete it.

Further, Scores are calculated on the basis of the responses of the experts selected by RSF combined with the data on abuses and violence against journalists during the period evaluated.

The ranking of the participating countries is done based on some parameters.

The parameters to decide the Press freedom include:-

1. Pluralism: Measures the degree to which opinions are represented in the media
2. Media independence: Measures the degree to which the media are able to function independently of sources of political, governmental, business and religious power and influence.
3. Environment and self-censorship: Analyses the environment in which news and information providers operate.
4. Legislative framework: Measures the impact of the legislative framework governing news and information activities
5. Transparency: Measures the transparency of the institutions and procedures that affect the production of news and information.
6. Infrastructure: Measures the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.
7. Abuses: Measures the level of abuse and violence. A seventh indicator based on data gathered about abuses and acts of violence against journalists and media during the period evaluated.

References :

• https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2021
• https://rsf.org/en/detailed-methodology

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Thank you !! 🙂