World Press Freedom

India's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index improved to 151 among the 180 countries surveyed by Reporters Without Borders this year from 159 the previous year. Finland, Estonia and the Netherlands take up the top three positions in the index that sought responses from more than 5,000 persons from across the world to finalise the rankings. "We have surveyed 5,000 respondents across the world. It comprises a diverse set including policymakers, journalists and other stakeholders," Thibaut Bruttin, assistant director general of Reporters Without Borders, said at a press conference in Delhi. The organisation does not reveal the respondents' identity, he said and insisted that it was a diverse set representing different ideologies. India has nearly 900 privately-owned TV channels, half of which are dedicated to news. Around 1,40,000 publications are published in more than 20 languages, including some 20,000 daily newspapers with a combined circulation of more than 390 million copie

Justice Ilanthiraiyan of Madras HC cited the Press Council Act, noting that the source of information reported by journalists is protected under Sec 15(2), which safeguards privileged communication

Press Freedom Day highlights the fundamental principles of press freedom, which is observed annually on May 3. It gives people a chance to think about how important free media are to society

World Press Freedom Day 2024: Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and media personnel often face challenges in performing their duties. Here are the best quotes and wishes

The job reductions include some of the most storied names in the business. Time magazine cut 15% of its staff. Conde Nast, publisher of Vogue and the New Yorker, has let go 5%

Media associations in the country have voiced concern over India slipping 11 places to 161st rank in the World Press Freedom Index, 2023, published on Wednesday. Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which publishes a yearly report on press freedom in countries across the world, had last year ranked India at 150 in a survey of 180 countries. "The situation has gone from 'problematic' to 'very bad' in three other countries: Tajikistan (down 1 at 153rd), India (down 11 at 161st) and Turkey (down 16 at 165th)," the RSF report said. "The other phenomenon that dangerously restricts the free flow of information is the acquisition of media outlets by oligarchs who maintain close ties with political leaders," the report, published on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, added. The Indian Women's Press Corps, Press Club of India, and the Press Association released a joint statement condemning the country's dip in the index. "The indices of press freedom have worsened i

"When we talk about attacks in the press, we normally never look at India as much because India is seen as this place of democracy, you know, syncretic values and cultural pluralism," she said

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in a statement on World Press Freedom Day, said that they "deplore the erosion of rights for journalists and media institutions under the Taliban."

This year, Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions

The Centre does not agree to conclusions drawn by Reporters Without Borders about press freedom in India for various reasons, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told Lok Sabha

The values the G7 espouses must be followed

The World Press Freedom Index 2019, topped by Norway, finds an increased sense of hostility towards journalists across the world

The World Press Freedom Index ranks 180 countries on indicators such as media independence, self-censorship, the rule of law, transparency and abuses