Several Countries Experience Declines on World Press Freedom Index
The Philippines has experienced a decline in press freedom, ranking 134th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This ranking marks a drop from the previous year, despite an initial rise in the index during the early months of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration. The RSF, alongside local organizations such as the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), has reported an increase in attacks and threats against journalists. In particular, there have been at least 135 incidents of attacks from July 2022 to April 2024, with state agents allegedly involved in over a third of these cases. The RSF has labeled the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries for media professionals in the region.
The drop in the Philippines' ranking is reflective of a broader trend in the Asia-Pacific region, where other countries have also seen declines in press freedom. India and Hong Kong, for instance, have enacted laws that are seen as detrimental to journalistic freedom. In the South Caucasus, Georgia experienced a significant fall in the index to 108th place, primarily due to the reintroduction of a controversial foreign agent law by the ruling party. Meanwhile, Armenia has shown improvement, climbing six places.
Globally, the World Press Freedom Index has noted a worsening situation with increased political attacks on press freedom and a rise in journalist detentions and killings. Countries like the United States, Israel, and Argentina have also seen notable declines in their rankings. Norway, while retaining the top spot, has experienced a decrease in its political score, highlighting the pervasive nature of the issue across diverse political landscapes.
