PARIS, May 03 (News On Japan) - Reporters Without Borders has released its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, ranking Japan 66th out of 180 countries and regions surveyed, just behind Timor-Leste (65th) and Fiji (64th).
The Paris-based organization published the index on May 2nd, based on questionnaires sent to media professionals worldwide. It evaluates the state of journalism by analyzing the environment in which news outlets operate in each country.
Japan moved up four spots from the previous year but remained at the bottom among G7 nations.
The report criticized Japan’s longstanding press club system, saying it contributes to self-censorship and fosters discrimination against freelance and foreign journalists. It also noted that political pressure and gender inequality have undermined the media's role as a public watchdog.
Among G7 members, the United States ranked second-lowest at 57th. The report cited restrictions on Associated Press reporters during the Trump administration as part of what it called "a latent threat to American journalism."
The report also highlighted worsening conditions in conflict zones. Palestine ranked 163rd, with around 200 journalists reported killed in Gaza since fighting escalated two years ago. The region was described as the most dangerous in the world for journalists.
Iran remained at 176th, Syria—where the Assad regime has collapsed—ranked 177th, followed by China at 178th and North Korea at 179th. Eritrea was ranked last at 180th, with the organization noting the absence of any independent media and a reputation for detaining journalists longer than any other country.
Globally, the report warned that media independence is increasingly threatened by economic pressures. It noted that outlets are struggling to balance editorial freedom with the financial demands of advertisers, calling the economic index a record low.
Website: https://rsf.org/en/index
Source: TBS
