Press freedom at lowest level in 25 years amid growing authoritarian pressure

Press freedom around the world is at its lowest ebb in a generation, according to an influential annual index that highlights growing authoritarian pressure on the media. The average score for the 180 countries assessed by the World Press Freedom Index , compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), was the lowest in the index’s 25-year history. For the first time, more than half of all countries were placed in the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom. …