"Reporters without borders": "strong personalities" worsen the freedom of the press

All over the world, the media position worsens, “reporters without borders” state. This is also affected by authoritarian “strong personalities”. In 2016, the strengthening of state control for independent Russian media continued.

The international human rights organization “Reporters Without Borders” fears “big changes” in the situation with the freedom of the media in many countries, including large democracies. “The obsession with surveillance and violation of the confidentiality of sources sharply pushes down many countries that were considered samples yesterday,” the 2017 press freedom, published by human rights activists on Wednesday, on April 26, said.

The report “Reporters without borders” refers to the fall of the US rating (in positions, now the country takes 43rd place), Great Britain (minus 2; 40) and other countries. It is indicated that the attacks on the media “significantly” intensified with the advent of Donald Trump and the campaign in the UK to exit the European Union. “Everywhere where the model of authoritarian“ strong personalities ”is won by the triumph, freedom of the press is losing ground,” the human rights activists say. They worsened their position in the rating of the freedom of the press Poland (minus 7; 54), Hungary (minus 4; 71), Turkey (minus 4; 155), which, as the authors of the study, "descends straight to hell."

In Russia, the strengthening of state control for independent media continues

Although human rights activists state that 2016 was marked by “continuing the strengthening of state control for independent Russian media”, nevertheless, Russia retains last year's position in the lower part of the rating, occupying 148th place. The press release of “Reporters without borders” notes that the Russian government continues to take measures against the media critical against the authorities. An example is the case of RBC holding. In addition, new laws are mentioned that increase pressure on Internet users.

The first place in the list is Norway, which has risen to two lines. In places with neighbors, Finland, previously leading in the ranking, changed. The second place is occupied by the third Scandinavian country - Sweden (plus 6). Germany remained in the same position as a year earlier-the 16th. At the other end of the list are Syria (177), Turkmenistan (178), Eritrea (179) and DPRK (180). Among the countries of the former USSR, Estonia is above all (plus 2; 12). The following are Latvia (minus 4; 28), Lithuania (minus 1; 36), Georgia (64), Armenia (79), Moldova (minus 4; 80), Kyrgyzstan (minus 4; 89), Ukraine (plus 5; 102), Tajikistan (plus 1; 149), Belarus (plus 4; 153), Kazakhstan (plus 3; 157), 157), 157), 157), 157), 157), 157) Azerbaijan (plus 1; 162), Uzbekistan (minus 3; 169).

General deterioration

The RBG report indicates that the situation with freedom of speech deteriorated in two -thirds reflected in the list of countries, and the total number of states in which the situation with the media was characterized as “good” or “rather good” decreased by 2.3 percent. “The situation with the freedom of the press has never been so threatening,” the report says. “The loosening of democratic principles stunes all those who believe that other freedom cannot be guaranteed without freedom of high -quality press,” said Christoph Delaire, Secretary General of Reporters without Borders.

The document notes that Europe, despite the poor results, remains a "geographical area where the media are the most free." Nevertheless, in Europe, the most significant deterioration in the general index is noted: +3.8 percent in one year (the higher the indicator, the worse the situation). At the same time, over the past five years, the index has increased by 17.5 percent.

The World Press Freedom rating has been published annually since 2002 at the initiative of RBG. It allows you to evaluate 180 countries on their achievements in the field of pluralism of opinions, the independence of the media, respect for security and freedom of journalists.