NL rises in press freedom ranking but economic picture is grim
Press freedom worldwide has fallen to a new low, but the Netherlands has moved up from fourth to third place in the annual ranking compiled by journalists’ organisation Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF).
Countries are assessed on a scale from “good” to “very bad”, and this year a record 42 countries were given the lowest rating. RSF also described 2024 as the “most deadly” year ever for journalists.
Ruth Kronenburg, director of RSF’s Dutch partner Free Press Unlimited (FPU), told news website Nu.nl that the situation in Gaza is particularly “inhumane” and that Israel is repeatedly violating international law, including by killing journalists.
“Without independent reporting, we are increasingly losing sight of what is happening,” she said.
Top of the list for press freedom are Norway, Estonia and the Netherlands, which has overtaken Sweden. China, North Korea and Eritrea make up the bottom three.
The influence of US president Donald Trump is not yet reflected in the list, as the election took place late in the year.
Although the Netherlands has risen one place – partly due to the convictions of those responsible for the murder of crime reporter Peter R de Vries – the number of threats against journalists here has increased.
Press freedom hotline PersVeilig received 249 reports of threats, intimidation and attacks in the Netherlands last year, up from 213 in 2023.
“Although physical attacks against journalists are the most visible violations of press freedom, economic pressure is also a major, more insidious problem,” the agency said.
“Much of this is due to ownership concentration, pressure from advertisers and financial backers, and public aid that is restricted, absent or allocated in an opaque manner. The data measured by the RSF index’s economic indicator clearly shows that today’s news media are caught between preserving their editorial independence and ensuring their economic survival.”
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