“Information chaos” and disinformation are fueling international tensions and divisions in society, warns the RSF organization (Reporters Without Borders) in the 2022 world press freedom rankings.
Altogether, 73% of 180 countries evaluated annually by the NGO are characterized by situations considered “very serious”, “difficult” or “problematic” in terms of the freedom of journalists to carry out their work.
The rate is the same as last year, but the number of countries where the situation is “very serious” has increased from 21 to a record 28. These include countries like Russia, as well as Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and Venezuela, four from Latin America. , North Korea, Iran or Syria.
From Russia (155th), RSF points out that the invasion of Ukrainian territory was prepared by a “propaganda war”. Only eight countries – including Portugal and Costa Rica – are “well off” against 12 in 2021.
The RSF points to a “twofold polarization” between and within countries, fostered by “the growing power of disinformation circuits” in democratic societies and “media control in authoritarian regimes”.
“The creation of a media arsenal in some authoritarian regimes deprives citizens of their right to information and contributes to escalation of international tensions that could lead to the worst wars,” says RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire.
China (175), which has seen a sharp decline in the press freedom list, “uses its legislative arsenal to limit its population and isolate it from the rest of the world, particularly Hong Kong”, rose from 80th to 148th place in the rankings. , by enforcing a “brutal” security law to silence critical media and detain journalists.
“It’s the biggest drop of the year, but the constant attacks on press freedom and the gradual disappearance of the rule of law in Hong Kong fully deserve it,” Cedric Alviani, RSF’s director for East Asia, told AFP.
RSF explains that democratic societies are splitting due to the rise of the “Fox News-model-based” opinion media, the channel of choice for conservatives in the United States, and the “expansion of socially empowered disinformation circuits.”
Latin America, murders and attacks
In Latin America, RSF regrets that journalists are working in an “increasingly toxic and toxic” environment.
In particular, Brazil (110th), Cuba (173rd), Venezuela (159th), Nicaragua (160th) and El Salvador (112th), “distrust of the press fueled by anti-media rhetoric and trivialization of stigmatizing speeches by politicians”, “more space” won”.
“Increasingly visible and violent public assaults undermine the profession and promote abusive lawsuits, smear and intimidation campaigns – particularly against women – and online harassment of critical journalists.”
Nicaragua under Daniel Ortega’s government recorded the most significant decline in the region (-39 posts), with President Nayib Bukele’s “authoritarian comeback” pointing to RSF, which also described the situation in El Salvador as “worrying”.
The NGO also considers the press freedom situation to be “difficult” in El Salvador, Guatemala (124th), Bolivia (126th) and Mexico (127th).
With at least seven journalists killed in 2021, Mexico remains the world’s most violent country for the press, ranking 179 out of 180 in safety.
Countries with “problems” include Brazil, Ecuador (68th) and Chile (82nd).
Norway remains the leader in press freedom for the sixth year in a row, followed by Denmark and Sweden. The last countries on the list are China, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Iran, Eritrea and North Korea.
RSF used a new method based on five indicators (political context, legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context and security) to develop the classification.
source: Noticias
