Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2024 - Is it Trustworthy?

[IceJad]

Its a ranking of "press freedom".

Political polarization or other metrics for being "better off" are not meant to be under consideration. Maybe the South African state does legally restrict journalists more than other places. But Im not just going to assume its the case. The linked article says nothing about it.

What are you talking about? The main RSF link has descriptions of each country if you click on it. Read the descriptions for SA and then Japan and South Korea. Then tell me the ranking reflects their own assessments.

 

[IceJad]

Exactly. I think people are confusing what's being measured here.

Not really, press freedom is very closely related to political situation in a country. It is politics that determine level of press freedom each country enjoys. To think that there is wholly separated is naive.

 

[IceJad]

Agreed. Trudeau is also a racist, and should be impeached for his actions that he did at the turn of the 21st century. I made a post about that a while ago. He is also anti-life.

I have seen his "antics". I'm baffle myself why he hasn't been impeached yet. My guess is he has the "right" politics (progressivism) that protects him from all past and present transgressions. Others who have done the same but do not hold the same politics got arrested and punished.

 

[Pommer]

What are you talking about? The main RSF link has descriptions of each country if you click on it. Read the descriptions for SA and then Japan and South Korea. Then tell me the ranking reflects their own assessments.

Let’s say (for argument’s sake) that the South African number is wonky, might it be that “the authorities” got wind of this ranking and made sure that the people who had the power to push up South Africa’s ranking did so…or else?

 

[AlexB23]

Press freedom under attack, watchdog index shows – DW – 05/03/2024

Reporters Without Borders has cautioned of declining state support for press freedom around the world. The group released its 2024 World Press Freedom rankings, showing a mild improvement in press freedom in Germany.

www.dw.com

Index

RSF's World Press Freedom Index aims to compare the level of press freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories.

rsf.org

After reading through the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, I have come to the conclusion that RSF as an organization can no longer the trusted to be objective. It's ranking of countries are totally unbelievable. Take for example South Africa rank 38 which is far higher than respectable countries like Australia, Italy, Poland, South Korea & Japan. Really? You mean to tell me that I'm better off being a journalist in SA than say Japan. It's safer and easier to get information in SA than say Italy.

They dare say that press freedom is under attack when they come up with such a listing. What a farce.

I checked the internet. There are not many alternatives to RSF, and none with a comprehensive ranking of most world countries. So, the RSF is our only guy, my friend.

 

[IceJad]

I checked the internet. There are not many alternatives to RSF, and none with a comprehensive ranking of most world countries. So, the RSF is our only guy, my friend.

Thanks friend. Sad thing it is. Like the UN it is the one and only. Whether it performs well or otherwise there are no equivalent.

Who audits the auditors? I guess we do. But alas we are insignificant to make meaningful change.

 

[AlexB23]

Thanks friend. Sad thing it is. Like the UN it is the one and only. Whether it performs well or otherwise there are no equivalent.

Who audits the auditors? I guess we do. But alas we are insignificant to make meaningful change.

You are welcome. It is sad. We need multiple organizations, and we must audit the auditors. But hey, at least the Reporters Without Borders map agrees that the Middle East and East Asia lack freedom of the press.

 

[IceJad]

Let’s say (for argument’s sake) that the South African number is wonky, might it be that “the authorities” got wind of this ranking and made sure that the people who had the power to push up South Africa’s ranking did so…or else?

You mean for multiple years in a row? And the whole organization is unable to assess the current situation in South Africa. No one in the organization raises any objections to the constantly high ranking of some of the most let's say "undeserved" nations?

If the methodology that your organization uses is so easily manipulated or misses out on key factors, doesn't it mean a change is required? Then what's the value of the ranking? Isn't it to inform others about the current situation of press freedom around the world? With this kind of assessments how useful is the ranking? This is not a beauty pageant mind you.

Occam's my friend Occam's. Wake up something is wrong in RSF.

 

[IceJad]

You are welcome. It is sad. We need multiple organizations, and we must audit the auditors. But hey, at least the Reporters Without Borders map agrees that the Middle East and East Asia lack freedom of the press.

It's not 100% wrong I would say. But some of the more glaring ones are too obvious to ignore. Just like the UN. By and large it functions well enough. Yet we all notice some very inescapable wrongs that the organization has done. Some of the worst offenders are the UNSC and UNHRC.

 

[AlexB23]

It's not 100% wrong I would say. But some of the more glaring ones are too obvious to ignore. Just like the UN. By and large it functions well enough. Yet we all notice some very inescapable wrongs that the organization has done. Some of the worst offenders are the UNSC and UNHRC.

I do not follow all of what the UN does, but we need independent organizations to monitor intergovernmental coalitions. Also, Canada silences people.

Canada silences the press: https://www.cbc.ca/news/editorsblog/cbc-news-press-freedom-2023-1.6834223
Heck, there is an entire wiki on censorship in Canada: Censorship in Canada - Wikipedia

 

[Pommer]

Thanks friend. Sad thing it is. Like the UN it is the one and only. Whether it performs well or otherwise there are no equivalent.

Who audits the auditors? I guess we do. But alas we are insignificant to make meaningful change.

Oh, so there’s no international fraternity of journalists just this one guy and a gimmick.
Yeah, your points are valid, he was a huckster!

 

[Pommer]

You mean for multiple years in a row? And the whole organization is unable to assess the current situation in South Africa. No one in the organization raises any objections to the constantly high ranking of some of the most let's say "undeserved" nations?

If the methodology that your organization uses is so easily manipulated or misses out on key factors, doesn't it mean a change is required? Then what's the value of the ranking? Isn't it to inform others about the current situation of press freedom around the world? With this kind of assessments how useful is the ranking? This is not a beauty pageant mind you.

Occam's my friend Occam's. Wake up something is wrong in RSF.

I am unsure of why you would continue to tear the (one) guy’s numbers, knowing that it’s one guy with an opinion and a website.
He’s “wrong”, you “won”.