Reporters Without Borders: Australia and New Zealand’s Press Freedom Rankings Take a Dive
No country in the Asia-Pacific region ranks among the top 15 in press freedom, according to the annual report from Reporters Without Borders.
Journalists in this region face various dangers, from violence to online abuse, as highlighted in the report by RSF.
Australia dropped 12 places to 39th, while New Zealand fell six places to 19th in the rankings.
The report points out challenges in Australia such as media ownership ties to political leaders jeopardizing editorial independence and growing pressure from authorities.
While some states in Australia have press freedom laws, the Constitution lacks explicit protections, and there are concerns about limitations on journalistic freedom in some areas.
The report also highlights several problematic laws on national security and espionage in Australia, which could undermine journalists’ confidentiality. The pandemic has also led to job losses in the journalism industry.
Although overt censorship is rare, biases in the Australian media, like the culture of ‘mateship’ that marginalizes certain groups, are noted in the report.
Australian journalists have reported fears of threats and intimidation, including government interference, as reflected in a study from 2021.
Incidents like raids on journalists’ homes and media outlets have raised concerns about press freedom in Australia, according to RSF.
Regarding New Zealand
RSF describes New Zealand as a model for public interest journalism but notes a rise in online abuse targeting journalists.
New Zealand’s Constitution lacks press freedom guarantees, but legal precedents ensure media-related cases are resolved civilly.
In early 2022, journalists in New Zealand faced violence, insults, and death threats during protests against COVID-19 restrictions.
North Korea, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Bangladesh rank low in the press freedom index, with Hong Kong also dropping due to increased persecution under Beijing’s national security law.
Pacific nations like Timor-Leste, Samoa, and Taiwan are cited for maintaining press freedom despite challenges to accessing information.
The top five countries for press freedom are Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland, according to the report.
