Doha: Qatar has achieved the top spot in the Middle East in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The country rose five positions globally, ranking 79th this year compared to 84th in 2023, highlighting progress in its media freedom environment.
Despite this regional success, the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region continues to be among the most dangerous areas for journalists. The report criticizes Israel for systematically targeting the press in Gaza, placing it at 112th globally, a drop from last year’s 101st position. Iran and Syria remain at the bottom of the index, ranked 176th and 177th respectively, due to extreme censorship and suppression of media freedom.
RSF emphasized that economic pressure—including ownership concentration, influence from advertisers, and inadequate public support—continues to erode editorial independence worldwide. Even in the Americas, most countries have seen their rankings drop, with the United States falling to 57th amid ongoing political challenges.
The report underscores that in many regions, media outlets face a growing struggle to balance financial viability with editorial integrity, making press freedom increasingly fragile.
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