Press freedom at lowest level in 25 years: RSF
France 24 • • world
Key Points:
- More than half of the world's countries are now classified as having "difficult" or "very serious" press freedom conditions, marking the worst global average in the 25-year history of the RSF Index.
- The United States dropped to 64th place, citing President Donald Trump's "systematic" attacks on journalists, the expulsion of a Salvadoran journalist, and cuts to international broadcasting funding.
- Russia ranks 172nd, with 48 journalists imprisoned as authorities use anti-terrorism laws to suppress press freedom, while Niger experienced the steepest decline amid junta rule and regional instability.
- Norway remains the top-ranked country for press freedom, while Eritrea is last for the third consecutive year; Syria showed notable improvement after Assad's ouster but still faces serious press freedom challenges.
- RSF calls for stronger international protections and meaningful sanctions to combat the global decline in press freedom and address widespread impunity.
