Alexander Pracht
By Alexander Pracht
Armenia ranked 50th out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index published Thursday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), down from 34th place last year.
It scored 67.02 points out of 100 in this year’s index, down from 73.96 last year, with its media environment classified as “problematic” – the third tier out of five. Despite the drop, the country still ranks higher than it did in 2022 and any earlier year, a trend RSF attributes to a massive global deterioration, where other countries are seeing even faster declines.
“In 25 years, the average score of all 180 countries […] included in the ranking has never been so low,” the France-based non-profit said.
The report noted that no journalists were killed or are in detention in Armenia this year. However, it highlighted persistent structural issues, describing a polarized media landscape shaped by political divisions and external pressures.
“Despite Armenia’s varied media landscape, its media remains polarized. The country is facing an unprecedented level of disinformation and hate speech fed by internal political tension, security problems at the country’s borders, and the country’s complicated position between Russia and the European Union,” RSF said.
It added that many outlets are aligned either with current authorities that came to power in 2018 or with former elites, with only a limited number operating independently. Journalists, the report said, are frequently subjected to pressure, insults, and violence by both government and opposition figures, as well as their supporters, across institutional settings, public spaces, and online platforms.
“Social media, used daily by ⅔ of the population, is the main source of information. Many new media outlets have sprung up since the 2018 “Velvet Revolution” and independent news sites such as Civilnet.am, hetq.am, Factor.am and Azatutyun.am are thriving and fulfilling an independent watchdog role that is essential in a democracy. Nevertheless, most broadcast and print media, affiliated with major political and commercial interests, continue to face pressure concerning their editorial policy,” RSF says in its fact-sheet on Armenia.
Despite the decline, Armenia continues to outperform its regional neighbors. Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia all ranked in the bottom 10, reflecting overwhelming restrictions and state control over media in those countries.
Also read: Armenia tops South Caucasus in Freedom House ranking despite unchanged score
Turkey placed 163rd with 27.94 points, while Georgia scored 40.77, ranking 135th. In the latter country, “official interference undermines efforts to improve press freedom,” RSF said, noting a sharp decline from 60th place just five years ago.
Norway topped the ranking with 92.72 points.
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