India is one of world s most dangerous countries for journalists : 2021 World Press Freedom Index
India ranks 142nd out of 180 countries in the index prepared by Reporters Without Borders.
20 Apr, 2021
India still ranks as a country that is bad for journalism, according to the 2021 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders. India ranks 142nd out of 180 countries, the same rank it held last year.
The report labelled India as one of the worldâs most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their job properly . It cited police violence against journalists, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt officers .
Transcript: World Press Freedom
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A government’s fear of scrutiny and criticism often determines how repressive it is toward the press. The greater the fear, the greater the loss of press freedom.
Of course governments dislike appearing afraid, so they hide their fear under the cover of “a reasonable excuse”. Such an excuse is often related to protecting national security or the public interest. Even better is the cover of a national emergency.
The non-government organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which compiles the World Press Freedom Index, knows this. And so it has adopted a sceptical approach to what governments around the world have been saying about how COVID-19 requires new measures for dealing with the press during this time of emergency.
Covid recap for Leeds as vaccine passports reportedly coming next month
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The UK could launch coronavirus vaccine passports as early as next month, reports suggest.
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