Belarus down four places in RSF’s press freedom ranking

May 3, BPN. Belarus ranks 157th of 180 assessed countries and territories in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

In 2022, Belarus ranked 153rd somewhat improving its position due to the changed RSF’s methodology.

“The 2023 Index spotlights the rapid effects that the digital ecosystem’s fake content industry has had on press freedom,” the report says noting that respondents in 118 countries reported systematical involvement of political actors in massive disinformation or propaganda campaigns.

“The difference is being blurred between true and false, real and artificial, facts and artifices, jeopardizing the right to information,” the RSF stressed.

The world’s 10 best countries for press freedom are Norway, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Portugal, and Timor-Leste.

Bahrain, Cuba, Myanmar, Eritrea, Syria, Turkmenistan, Iran, Vietnam, China and North Korea conclude the ranking with the worst press freedom score.

On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, 33 media workers remain behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.