The 2021 report on World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) indicated that “journalism is completely or partially blocked in 73% of the 180 countries ranked by the organization, and constrained in 59 others.”
RSF states that the “production and distribution of the vaccine of journalism is blocked by political, economic and technological factors.” Such factors write RSF, constitute “dramatic deterrents in people’s access to information and an increase in obstacles to news coverage."
Using segmented bar graph format, RSF classifies the continents in terms of their environments for press freedom in five categories as follows:
- Good
- Satisfactory
- Problematic
- Difficult
- Very serious
The levels of press freedom are indicated in the first column of the following tables; the category of each level, as well as the percentage calculated for each level and category, are indicated in Tables 1a, 1b and 1c.
Table 2 below shows the number of countries across the five continents, rated as “Good”, “Satisfactory”, “Problematic”, ”Difficult” and “Very serious” or “Very seriously difficult” in terms of press freedom.
Concluding comments
Items (1) and (2) below are comments from RSF.
- Of the 180 countries included in the 2021 survey, 28 representing 16 percent of countries surveyed, were rated as “Very Bad” in press freedom.
- Of the 180 countries, 10 representing 6 percent, were rated as the “worst” in press freedom. Eritrea in Africa was rated among the 10 countries.
- In general, Tables 1(a),1(b), 1(c) as well as Table 2, tell the story of the extent of press freedom in the continents of the world as reported by RSF in its 2022 report based on the organization’s survey conducted in 2021.
- Apart from the comments of RSF above, it can be noted that it is only in 53 countries, representing 29% of the 180 included in the survey, that press freedom was rated as “Good” or “Satisfactory.”
It can also be noted that 127 countries, representing 71% of the 180 countries surveyed were rated as “Problematic”, “Difficult” or “Very Serious” in press freedom.
Problems are general facets of life in this world and are encountered almost everywhere, especially in low and middle income countries, due unfortunately to unnecessary shows of power. If we take out the 69 countries rated as “Problematic” in press freedom under assumption of the generality of “problems” as a world phenomenon, it can be noted that 58 countries representing 32% of the 180 countries surveyed were rated as “Difficult” and “Very Serious” environments for press freedom. This, together with the comments made by RSF in items (1) and (2), constitute serious matters for the world of journalism and press freedom. - Freedom of the press is one of the cardinal factors in both democracy and development. Democracy is a slow process; but it needs press freedom to make the development journey smoother and more satisfying. In a sense, development, democracy and press freedom are covariates. The three go together to create prosperity and power in nations.
- Africa has not yet moved into the category of countries rated as “Good” in press freedom. It is hoped, however, that the African continent will put in the necessary measures to raise the level of press freedom as an essential factor toward democracy and development in the shortest possible time.
References
- https://www.transparency.org/en/countries
- https://rsf.org >2022-world-press-freedom-index-journalism
- https://rsf-2022-world-press-freedom-index-new-era-polerisation
