Japan has fallen two places from last year to 70th in the 2024 world press freedom rankings, according to the international journalist organization Reporters Without Borders.
“Traditional and business interests, political pressure and gender inequality often prevent journalists from fully fulfilling their watchdog role,” the Paris-based organization said on Friday.
“On social media, nationalist groups also routinely harass journalists who criticize the government or discuss ‘unpatriotic’ topics,” the group added.
Japan ranked lowest in the group of seven major countries.
In the rankings of 180 countries and regions, China, which was second worst last year, rose to 172nd, and North Korea, which was last, to 177th.
On China, the group said: “Independent journalists and bloggers who dare to report ‘sensitive’ information are often surveilled, harassed, detained and, in some cases, tortured.”
“China is the world’s largest jailer of journalists, currently holding more than 100 prisoners,” they also said.
Turning to Russia, which ranks 162nd, the group said that since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, “almost all independent media have been banned, blocked and/or declared ‘foreign agents’ or ‘undesirable organizations’.”
All top 10 slots were occupied by European countries, with Norway topping the list for the eighth year in a row. At the bottom was Eritrea in Africa.
