Press freedom is at its lowest level in 25 years. This is according to report from organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has released its annual World Press Freedom Index, which assesses degree to which the media in 180 countries is free to operate. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or worse in three quarters of nations assessed. In over half of world, conditions were "difficult" to "very serious". In 2013, fewer than third of countries were given this classification. Press freedom was considered "problematic" in over 70 per cent of countries. RSF said conditions were "good" in only seven countries. These were all in northern and western Europe.
RSF report highlights growing authoritarian pressure on journalists. It wrote: "Political pressure on press is intensifying, authoritarian tendencies are growing, and media market is heavily weakened.... Index's analysis highlights alarming deterioration in conditions for journalism in many parts of the world." The Index describes worrying trend across the globe. It says there was "systematic policy" of attacks on journalists in USA. It said that in Russia, "laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism" were used to "restrict press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in past year were victims of war or criminal networks".
