The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024 Round-up has highlighted a grim picture of press freedom worldwide, with 54 journalists including five in Bangladesh killed in 2024. It says journalists increasingly pay the ultimate price in conflict zones and under repressive regimes. Due to the large number of journalists killed in Pakistan (7) and the protests that rocked Bangladesh (5), Asia remained the region with the second-highest number of killed media workers, according to RSF. Among 54 journalists 31 lost their lives in conflict zones, marking the highest fatality rate in five years. The Gaza Strip has been singled out as the deadliest region for journalists, accounting for nearly 30% of fatalities, where 35 journalists were reportedly killed by the Israeli army in connection to their work. Press Freedom Under Siege The report highlights the broader issue of media suppression, as 550 journalists are currently imprisoned worldwide — a 7% rise from last year. Israel has become the third-largest jailer of journalists, with a sharp increase in detentions since October 2023. The report also sheds light on enforced disappearances, with nearly 100 journalists missing across 34 countries. Alarmingly, 45% of these cases are attributed to enforced disappearances, often under authoritarian regimes or amidst government negligence. Bangladesh’s Situation Protests triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial quota system for public jobs were violently repressed by the police: five journalists lost their lives and many others were injured. Mehedi Hasan, a journalist for the Dhaka Times, was killed on July 18 while covering clashes between protestors and security forces. RSF Urges Action RSF Director General Thibaut Bruttin emphasised the urgent need to combat impunity and protect press freedom. “Journalists do not die, they are killed; they do not disappear, they are kidnapped. Protecting those who inform us is protecting the truth,” Bruttin said. The RSF has reiterated its call for global governments to ratify the 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, underscoring the urgent need for international solidarity in safeguarding journalists and preserving press freedom. This year’s findings highlight the human cost of bringing truth to light, reinforcing the need for collective action to protect those who risk their lives to keep the world informed. Repeal repressive laws, dismiss baseless cases against journos: RSF “Journalists do not die, they are killed; they are not in prison, regimes lock them up; they do not disappear, they are kidnapped. These crimes — often orchestrated by governments and armed groups with total impunity — violate international law and too often go unpunished. We need to get things moving, to remind ourselves as citizens that journalists are dying for us, to keep us informed,” said Thibaut Bruttin. “We must continue to count, name, condemn, investigate, and ensure that justice is served. Fatalism should never win. Protecting those who inform us is protecting the truth,” Bruttin added.  

Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza has announced his departure from the conflict-ravaged Gaza Strip. “I had to evacuate for many reasons,” Azaiza shared on platform X, expressing his gratitude and urging prayers for Gaza. Azaiza has emerged as a crucial media figure in the embattled Gaza Strip. With over 18 million Instagram followers and a significant presence on X, he has been a primary source of live updates during the Israel-Hamas conflict, as reported by Al Arabiya. In a heart-wrenching Instagram video, Azaiza, clad in his blue press vest – a symbol of a journalist’s non-combatant status in war zones – declared, “This is the last time you will see me with this heavy, stinky vest.” The video poignantly captures his farewell to Gaza, surrounded by friends and family who assist in removing his press vest and embrace him in a final goodbye. Read more: States are obliged to prevent crimes against humanity and genocide, UN Committee stresses Azaiza's impactful presence on social media has given millions worldwide a personal glimpse into the Gaza war, fostering a deep emotional bond between him and his followers. His absence, particularly when not posting for extended periods, prompts a flood of concerned comments about his safety. Azaiza has courageously documented Israeli airstrikes, often amid the devastation of destroyed homes. Originally focusing on everyday life in Gaza, Azaiza’s work shifted to covering Israel’s military operations, including the wars in 2014 and 2021. Remarkably, his Instagram following skyrocketed from 25,000 to 18 million in just over 100 days since the onset of Israel’s military action following Hamas’ attack on October 7. “We are a nation that is getting killed and we’re trying not to be ethnically cleansed,” Azaiza stated in a post. Tragically, over 80 journalists, predominantly Palestinians, have lost their lives in Israeli strikes since October 7, as per Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner has raised alarms over the unprecedented death toll among journalists in Gaza. The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that the first 10 weeks of the war have been the deadliest for journalists in a single location in recent history. Israel has consistently denied targeting journalists, asserting its focus on Hamas. Meanwhile, on January 9, Israel’s Supreme Court declined an international media request for unrestricted access to Gaza. Read more: Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north

There’s been a “dramatic deterioration” of press freedom since the pandemic started to tear across the world, Reporters Without Borders said in its annual report published Tuesday. The group’s new World Press Freedom Index, which evaluated the press situations in 180 countries, painted a stark picture and concluded that 73% of the world’s nations have serious issues with media freedoms. It says countries have used the coronavirus pandemic, which erupted in China in late 2019, “as grounds to block journalists’ access to information, sources and reporting in the field.” Also read: Media Freedom Coalition concerned over Myanmar military’s efforts to muzzle media This is particularly the case in Asia, the Mideast and Europe, the media group said. “Journalism is the best vaccine against disinformation,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “Unfortunately, its production and distribution are too often blocked by political, economic, technological and, sometimes, even cultural factors. In response to the virality of disinformation across borders, on digital platforms and via social media, journalism provides the most effective means of ensuring that public debate is based on a diverse range of established facts.” Also read: Bangladesh drops one notch in World Press Freedom Index Issues have also arisen from a drop in public trust in journalism itself. The group said 59% of people polled in 28 countries claimed that journalists “deliberately try to mislead the public by reporting information they know to be false.”

Bangladesh has ranked 152nd among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) 2021 while its position was 151st last year, according to Reporters Without Borders, also known as Reporters sans frontières (RSF). The 2021 World Press Freedom Index shows that journalism, the main vaccine against disinformation, is completely or partly blocked in 73% of the 180 countries ranked by the organisation. This year’s index, which evaluates the press freedom situation in 180 countries and territories annually, shows that journalism, which is arguably the best vaccine against the virus of disinformation, is totally blocked or seriously impeded in 73 countries and constrained in 59 others, which together represent 73% of the countries evaluated, , RSF states in an article published on its website. Also read: World Press Freedom Index: Bangladesh slips one place to 151st Independent journalism is being fiercely suppressed in Bangladesh (down 1 at 152nd), Sri Lanka (127th) and Nepal (up 6 at 106th) – the latter’s rise in the Index being due more to falls by other countries than to any real improvement in media freedom, it said. These countries are classified as having “very bad,” “bad” or “problematic” environments for press freedom, and are identified accordingly in black, red or orange on the World Press Freedom map. The Index data reflect a dramatic deterioration in people's access to information and an increase in obstacles to news coverage. The coronavirus pandemic has been used as grounds to block journalists’ access to information sources and reporting in the field. The data shows that journalists are finding it increasingly hard to investigate and report sensitive stories, especially in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Also read: Digital Security Act not for curbing press freedom: Anisul  “Journalism is the best vaccine against disinformation,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “Unfortunately, its production and distribution are too often blocked by political, economic, technological and, sometimes, even cultural factors. In response to the virality of disinformation across borders, on digital platforms and via social media, journalism provides the most effective means of ensuring  that  public debate is based on a diverse range of established facts.” Norway  ranked first in the Index for the fifth year running even though its media have complained of a lack of access to state-held information about the pandemic. Finland maintained its position in second place while Sweden (up 1 at 3rd) recovered its third place ranking, which it had yielded to Denmark (down 1 at 4th) last year. The 2021 Index demonstrates the success of these Nordic nations’ approach towards upholding press freedom. Also read: Bangladesh enjoying greater press freedom than other countries: Minister

An international media rights group has filed a complaint with German prosecutors against Saudi Arabia's crown prince and four other top officials accusing them of crimes against humanity over allegations they were involved in the killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, authorities said Tuesday.

A total of 50 journalists were killed worldwide in 2020, according to the second part of the annual round-up of abusive treatment and violence against journalists published on Tuesday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Bangladesh has been ranked 151st out of 180 countries in this year’s World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) by Reporters Without Borders.