India's ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index released which reveals that it has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, according to the latest report released by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on World Press Freedom Day that is on the 3rd of May. In comparison, Pakistan stands out to be better in terms of media freedom as it was placed at 150, an improvement from last year's 157th rank. In 2022, India was ranked at 150.

Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th year as against 146th in 2022.

Norway, Ireland, and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press freedom while Vietnam, China, and North Korea constituted the bottom three.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) comes out with a global ranking of press freedom every year. It is an international NGO which self-declares to defend and promote media freedom. The body has its headquarters in Paris and it can consult with the United Nations too.

The objective of the World Press Freedom Index, which it releases every year, 'is to compare the level of press freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories in the previous year.

RSF defines press freedom as 'the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.'

Concerns that arise:

The Indian Women's Press Corps, the Press Club of India and the Press Association released a joint statement voicing their concern over the country's dip in the index.

The RSF report reveals that the indices of press freedom has not only worsened in India alone but in several other countries too.

For developing countries in the Global South, where inequalities have already perpetuated in the system, media's role is moreover paramount and can't be neglected. Contractual basis or alliance with political agendas and hostile working conditions are all putting constraints on press freedom. Insecure country can never contribute to a free press.

Many Parliamentarian leaders also raised an eyebrow on this degrading development. Shashi Tharoor remarked on Twitter,

'Time for all of us to hang our heads in shame: India slips in World Press Freedom Index, ranks 161 out of 180 countries.

Press is regarded as the 'Fourth Pillar' of our democracy. Declining status of the same will lead to an imbalance in every nook and corner of the society. A grave problem knocks our door, we must develop a mechanism to deal with it.

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Reference:

• thehindu.com