Political attacks on press freedom – including the detention of journalists, the suppression of independent media outlets and the widespread dissemination of disinformation – have intensified significantly over the past year, according to Reporters Without Borders’ annual world press freedom index.
The index ranks 180 countries according to the ability of journalists to work and report freely and independently. Romania is ranked 51. According to RSF, Romania boasts a diverse and relatively pluralistic media landscape, which offers fertile ground for public interest investigations with a strong impact.
However, the lack of transparency regarding media funding, especially by the state, as well as market difficulties undermine the reliability of information and trust in the media. In our country, “the safety of journalists remains a cause for concern, as they are often the target of attacks, threats and intimidation. In the case of the high-profile harassment and defamation campaign against the reporter Emilia Sercan, the authorities not only did not do justice, but were suspected of complicity.
“Surveillance remains a problem as intelligence services seek to gain greater power and influence amid the war in Ukraine and other international conflicts,” according to the report.
In addition, the judiciary is increasingly trying to force the mass media to reveal their sources. The number of abusive lawsuits (SLAPP) has increased, while court decisions do not always respect press freedom standards.
In Romania, major European media groups such as Ringier, PPT Group and Dogan Media International are present in the market alongside large and small local players (including Intact Media Group, RCS&RDS, Hotnews, G4Media, Recorder, Rise Project and PressOne).
The market is diversified, but fragmented, with many television channels whose sustainability is fragile. Editorial decisions are often subordinated to the interests of the owners, turning the media into a propaganda tool.
In Romania, the mass media lack independence and suffer from attempts at interference, especially with regard to the appointments of the management of public radio and television, as well as the National Audiovisual Council. Political parties can get favorable media coverage in exchange for opaque media funding. Populist politicians have adopted an aggressive political discourse towards journalists.
Norway remains at the top of this 22nd press freedom ranking, while Eritrea ranks last at 180, behind North Korea for the past two years. France dropped from 24th to 21st place.
The NGO condemns “the evident lack of political will of the international community to apply the principles of the protection of journalists” in Gaza. According to RSF, more than 100 Palestinian reporters have been killed by the Israeli army, at least 22 of them while on duty.
More broadly, this 2024 ranking highlights the fact that governments offer less protection to journalism, or even play an active role in disinformation.
RSF reports “a worrying deterioration in support and respect for media autonomy”, while “2024 is the biggest election year in world history”. Almost half of the world’s population is affected by at least one election, from India to the United States to the European elections, which portends new “very strong pressures”.
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