Reporters Without Borders’ 2022 World Press Freedom Index highlights an intense increase in media polarization that is fueling greater divisions within and between countries.
The latest report, which marks two decades of the World Press Freedom Index, sees Nordics Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland in four of the top five spots, joined by Estonia.
The United Kingdom and United States come in at 24 and 42, respectively. The rankings are (marginal) improvements from last year’s list for both countries, with the US rising 2 spots and the UK rising 9 from 2021.
Hong Kong dropped the most in the index from 2021 – from 80 to 148, a change of 68 – following a crackdown on journalistic autonomy in the region.
Reporters Without Borders notes, however, that a change in methodology for this year’s index means that direct year-to-year comparisons must be taken with a degree of care.
The report warns that the effects of globalized and unregulated online media encourages the spread of fake news and propaganda.
Dubbing the spread of opinion media the “Fox News model”, Reporters Without Borders notes that the spread of disinformation is amplified by the way social media functions, leading to increase in social and political tension in democratic societies such as the US and France.
Analysts note that “chronic issues impacting journalists remain unaddressed” in America, chiefly the disappearance of local newspapers, systemic polarization in the media, and the erosion of quality journalism by digital platforms and an animosity toward journalists.
Meanwhile, illiberal democracies like Poland (ranked 66th) are increasing suppressing independent media, contributing to increased polarization as well.
The index also marks a record 28 “very bad” press freedom classifications as authoritarian countries around the world have tightened their grip on media and messaging.
Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said in a statement:
“Margarita Simonyan, the Editor in Chief of RT (the former Russia Today), revealed what she really thinks in a Russia One TV broadcast when she said, ‘no great nation can exist without control over information.’ The creation of media weaponry in authoritarian countries eliminates their citizens’ right to information but is also linked to the rise in international tension, which can lead to the worst kind of wars.
“Domestically, the ‘Fox News-isation’ of the media poses a fatal danger for democracies because it undermines the basis of civil harmony and tolerant public debate.
“Urgent decisions are needed in response to these issues, promoting a New Deal for Journalism, as proposed by the Forum on Information and Democracy, and adopting an appropriate legal framework, with a system to protect democratic online information spaces.”
