At the top of the list of the safest countries for journalists, the first 12 places marked in white for many years are certainly the Scandinavian countries, which are known for their well-developed public support for journalistic work. Norway has been in the first place as the best-positioned country for five years in a row, although, as it is stated, the media in that country complained about the lack of access to state information about the pandemic. Finland retained second place, while Sweden regained its third position, which last year was held by Denmark, which took fourth place this year. This year, only 12 out of 180 countries (7%) can claim to offer a favorable media environment, compared to 13 countries (8%) last year.

Yellow marks the 13th (Germany) to 48th place in Romania. Germany was stripped of its classification as “good” because dozens of its journalists were attacked by supporters of extremist groups and groups that support conspiracy theories during protests against restrictions imposed in the fight against the pandemic. The United States also belongs to the yellow zone, ranking 44th and down one place, although the last year of former President Trump was marked by a record number of attacks on journalists (about 400 cases) and arrests of journalists (130) as they tried to cover protests. across the country against systemic racism and police brutality against colored people. But with the arrival of new President Biden, the situation is improving where he promises to support the environment of truth and points out that the goal of his administration is for the United States to regain the status of a world beacon of freedom of expression.

Russia belongs to the red zone because its situation is classified as “bad” and is in 150th place. It set in motion its repressive apparatus to limit and control media coverage of the protests in support of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny. Major TV channels continue to bombard viewers with propaganda, and vague and selective laws are used to arbitrarily arrest journalists who are often labeled “foreign agents.” Turkey also belongs to this group, which ranks 153rd. In “New Turkey” under the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Internet censorship has reached its peak. Turkish military operations along the border with Syria, political manipulations of the Syrian refugee crisis, and the coronary virus pandemic have been used as major tools to strengthen authoritarian policies towards critical media and use the first-instance system for political purposes. The government controls 90% of the national media, and criticizing and holding the government accountable is now almost impossible, as pluralism seeks to be removed by all possible means. Belarus has fallen by five places compared to 2020 and is now 158th out of 180 countries, and the description states that it is “the most dangerous country in Europe for journalists.” 97 journalists were arrested in Belarus last year, 11 are currently in prison, and 50 Internet sites have been blocked.

Countries that are painted black are classified as a “very bad” environment for media freedom and range from 160 to 180 seats. China ranks 177th, which continues to tighten internet censorship, surveillance, and propaganda to unprecedented levels. Next, China is followed by three totalitarian states that are always in the last three places Turkmenistan (178), North Korea (179), and in last place Eritrea. These countries have absolute control over all news and information with claims that they have not had COVID-19 cases.

At least 30 journalists were killed worldwide in 2020, while 21 of them were killed for their work, which is ten more than last year. Other journalists were killed in firefighting or fighting in conflict areas, but also on other tasks that proved life-threatening. Mexico (143) was the most devastating country for journalists where cartels, criminal groups, and militants were responsible for killing journalists, followed by Afghanistan (122), the Philippines (138), Syria (173). According to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), last year had the lowest number of murders of journalists since 2000 – 26. In Iran (174) we have a case of the direct and public killing of journalists by the government. Iran executed journalist Ruhollah Zam on December 12 for critically reporting on Iranian officials and providing information on the timing and locations of protests in 2017. The death penalty was hanging. The situation is most dangerous for journalists involved in investigative journalism and following the police in their reports, violence related to illegal narcotics and crime. Of particular concern is gender-based violence directed at female journalists.

“Journalism is the best vaccine against disinformation,” said RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire. “Unfortunately, its production and distribution are too often blocked by political, economic, technological and sometimes even cultural factors. In response to the viral nature of cross-border disinformation, on digital platforms and social networks, journalism is the main way to ensure that the public debate is based on a diverse set of facts, ”Deloire noted.

What we can conclude is that media freedoms are threatened and that there is a climate of fear and tension in the media world where hatred and animosity towards journalists turn into violence. The number of countries marked as safe for journalists is constantly declining and authoritarian authorities around the world are tightening the noose around the media. Another big problem is the fact that media houses are owned by politicians, powerful people, oligarchs who control newspapers and television and use them as a tool to achieve personal goals. Based on all these information, we can speak of a globally uncertain climate for journalists.