The organization Reporters Without Borders just published its annual report on press freedom on Friday. And their assessment is anything but rosy: global press freedom is in historically worse shape and the protection of the fourth estate seems more fragile than ever. The RSF assigns each country a traffic light color – from reassuring green to alarming red. Germany is now yellow – and slipping out of the top 10 of the most press-free countries. The problems: attacks on journalists at AfD protests as well as difficulties in reporting on the Middle East.
I think we should see this as a clear warning signal. How can it be that a democratic, economically leading country cannot manage to protect journalists better and guarantee safe and diverse reporting? Why has our society become so hostile to the media? Press freedom isn’t just a metric — it’s a mirror for political activities and our society. Right now, that mirror is cracking. It’s time we take a hard look before it shatters.
Friederike an MIA student from Berlin who has worked in journalism for three years. That’s why topics such as freedom of speech and press are particularly important to her.
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