Press Freedom Indexes
How organizations like Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House measure press freedom, what the indexes reveal, and their limitations.
Measuring Press Freedom
Two organizations dominate global press freedom measurement. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) publishes the annual World Press Freedom Index, ranking 180 countries based on indicators including pluralism, media independence, self-censorship, legal framework, transparency, and the quality of infrastructure. Freedom House publishes Freedom of the Press (now part of its broader Freedom in the World report), assessing political, legal, and economic environments for journalism.
Both indexes show a disturbing global trend. Press freedom has declined globally for over a decade. The number of countries rated 'free' by Freedom House has decreased, while the number rated 'not free' has increased. RSF's 2024 report found that the conditions for journalism were 'very bad' or 'difficult' in over 60% of countries.
