In Germany, journalists are increasingly being attacked. They are also being followed online, reports the organization “Reporters Without Borders”.
Due to wars and the spread of authoritarianism, the situation of press freedom worldwide is more unstable than it has been for a long time. This is the conclusion of the new ranking of press freedom by the organization “Reporters Without Borders” (RSF). In Germany, the number of physical attacks on journalists has peaked for the second time in a row.
With 103 physical attacks in 2022, RSF in Germany documented the highest level since records began in 2013. The vast majority of attacks against reporters therefore took place in conspiracy ideological, anti-Semitic and right-wing extremist contexts. Two-thirds of the incidents were reported in East Germany.
Germany continues to fall in the ranking
According to the information, meetings and demonstrations remain the most dangerous places of work for media workers in Germany. But also online, reporters increasingly encountered queer hostility, sexism and racism. According to the RSF, many of those affected expressed dissatisfaction with the work of the police and judiciary. They complained that perpetrators often got away with it.
Overall, Germany deteriorated once again in an international comparison and fell five places in the press freedom ranking to 21st out of a total of 180 places. According to the RSF, this can mainly be explained by the passing of other countries that have improved significantly.
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The situation of press freedom worldwide has been volatile since the beginning of last year due to crises and wars, Reporters Without Borders said. The organization points to developments such as the almost total suppression of independent reporting in Russia as a result of the Ukraine war and mass arrests of media workers in Turkey. Overall, the security situation in 36 countries is classified as “very serious”.
Organized disinformation a growing problem
In the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Myanmar (173rd place) and Vietnam (178th place), repressive working conditions for media workers still prevail. Wanton arrests and disastrous prison conditions were the order of the day in both countries. Organized disinformation is also a growing problem in many countries: in 118, i.e. two-thirds of all countries, a majority of respondents stated that political actors in their country were involved in massive disinformation or propaganda campaigns.
Overall, the organization classified the situation in 52 countries as “good” or “satisfactory”. Norway secured first place in the rankings for the seventh time in a row. In second-placed Ireland, a new defamation law protects media workers from abusive claims. Denmark ranks third.
Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index compares the situation for journalists and the media in 180 states and territories. The ranking is based on five indicators: in addition to security, these are political context, legal framework, economic context and socio-cultural context. The results are determined in each country by means of a qualitative study using questionnaires and a quantitative survey of attacks.
