Disinformation and censorship contribute to a global decline in press freedom

An increase in disinformation and propaganda led by the Kremlin is having a disastrous effect on independent news organizations worldwide, according to a new report.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stated in its 2022 World Press Freedom Index released on Tuesday that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has greatly contributed to the spread of false information and propaganda.

As the journalism watchdog group reports, the findings are worrisome because they indicate deep divisions among media within countries and among countries internationally.

In their annual report, the group ranks 180 countries according to the conditions for independent journalism. The report this year uses a new methodology that takes into account countries' political, legal, economic, sociocultural, and security conditions.

This index classifies a record 28 countries as "having very bad media freedoms." Among those countries is China, which exports censorship beyond its borders while amplifying propaganda from the Kremlin about Russia's devastating war against Ukraine.

China and Russia top the list.

On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine and has since taken complete control over media coverage, passing a new law that carries a 15-year prison sentence for reporting "false news" about its military, and forbids even referring to the conflict as a "war."

Most independent news outlets have been forced to shut down or relocate outside of Russia, including the renowned Novaya Gazeta newspaper, Ekho Moskvy radio and Dozhd television.

As independent voices have been absent, Russian officials have been able to spread propaganda that downplays the war and misleads the public on the Kremlin's invasion.

Russia is ranked 155 out of 180 countries in RSF's index of press freedom, where 1 is the most free and 180 is the least free.

According to the new report, China is ranked 175th. As Beijing's influence increases, Hong Kong's ranking has plummeted to 148th out of 180. This is the result of a series of arrests and raids that has led to the closure of pro-democracy news websites.

Reporters Without Borders' country report on China reports that it is the world's largest jailer of journalists, with 120 detained. Coercion, harassment, intimidation and surveillance are used by the regime to prevent independent and foreign journalists from reporting on issues considered "sensitive."

Authoritarianism is on the rise.

North Korea is the worst-ranked nation at 180 out of 180. A few years of progress have been wiped out by political turmoil, conflict, and rising authoritarianism elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.

Following the coup of 2021 in Myanmar, journalists were detained, media licenses were revoked, and many news organizations fled the country. Myanmar, ranked 176th, is one of the world's worst jailers of journalists under military rule.

The Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan pledged to maintain press freedom after taking power in August 2021. RSF said the Taliban's seizure of power had worsened conditions for journalists and news organizations, which were victims of various forms of intimidation and violence. Afghanistan ranked 154th.

Laws criminalizing online journalism have dealt a blow to the right to information across much of Africa, RSF stated, while rumors, propaganda, and disinformation contribute to the undermining of quality information.

The war in Tigray, with its communication blackouts and restricted access, contributed to Ethiopia's ranking of 114. Djibouti and Eritrea, two neighboring countries, rank far worse, ranking 179 and 164, respectively.

RSF noted in its accompanying analysis that African media continue to struggle economically.

The United States is not perfect.

As a result of being attacked by former President Donald Trump as "fake news," the United States maintained a relatively high ranking of 42 in RSF's index. Part of the reason for this is the return of regular White House press briefings.

But RSF pointed out that problems remain, including "the disappearance of local newspapers, the systematic polarization of the media, and the erosion of journalism by digital platforms in an environment of hostility and aggression toward journalists."

There are barriers associated with covering state governments and protests, for example.

Some positive signs, however

Despite an overall trend of decline, Clayton said there are positives.

Governments sometimes provide funding for news media without interfering with their operations, as a means of ensuring their independence from political influence.

RSF's index places three Scandinavian countries at the top - Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Estonia, a former Soviet republic, ranks fourth.