Today, May 3, World Press Freedom Day is celebrated all over the world, an anniversary that aims to highlight the importance of free and independent information. Like every year, Repoter Senza Frontiere (RFS) has drawn up the global ranking of the countries in which journalistic activity is subjected to limitations or censorship. According to the World Press Freedom Index produced by RFS, in 2024 Italy fell by 5 positions compared to the previous year and is currently in 46th place, out of 180. As the study reports, the influence would be above all it was the fact that “a member of the parliamentary coalition in power is trying to acquire the second largest news agency, Agi”, referring to the Northern League MP Antonio Angelucci.
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index
As we read in the analysis by Repoter Senza Frontiere, freedom of the press throughout the world in 2024 is threatened by precisely those who should be its guarantors: the political authorities. This finding is based on the fact that, of the five indicators used to draw up the ranking, it is precisely the political one that has suffered the greatest decline, with an overall decrease of 7.6 points. According to the non-profit organization’s report, in 2024 there was a “clear lack of political will on the part of the international community to enforce the principles of protection of journalists, in particular United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222.” . Even the war in the Middle East hasn’t helped, due to the record number of violations against journalists and the media in the last 12 months: in fact, more than 100 Palestinian reporters have been killed by the Israeli Defense Forces, at least 22 of them while on duty .
see also
UNESCO award for freedom of the press to Palestinian journalists
The freest countries
The countries in which press freedom is “good” are all members of the European Union, which has adopted its first law on media freedom (Media Freedom Act). In first place in the press freedom ranking we find the Norwaythe country in which journalism appears to be freest and most autonomous, followed by Denmark (2nd place) e Sweden (3rd). However, free information is most severely tested in Hungary, Malta and Greece, the three lowest ranked EU countries.
Moving overseas, there is a notable decline in one of the world’s major powers, the United Statesdropped by 10 positions and is currently in 55th place.
The most censored countries
The last three positions in the ranking are occupied byAfghanistan (178th, third to last place), in which journalists are incessantly persecuted, by Syria (179°) and finally fromEritrea which, last in the ranking in 180th position, appears to be the country in which press freedom is most threatened. As the RSF Press Freedom Index reveals, the Maghreb-Middle East region has the worst situation, followed by the Asia-Pacific region, where journalism is stifled by authoritarian governments, and Africa. Serious situation also in Russia(ranking 162nd), where almost all independent media have been banned, declared “undesirable organisations” or subjected to military censorship.
