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