The 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index has Cyprus shockingly diving to the 65th position from the 26th it had just a year earlier.
The Reporters Without Frontiers non-governmental organization has drafted the report which was released on Tuesday – World Press Freedom Day.
It assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories, highlighting the disastrous effects of news and information chaos.
These are the effects of a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda, the organisation has noted.
The Nordic trio of Norway, Denmark and Sweden continues to serve as a democratic model where freedom of expression flourishes.
Greece is at an even worse position than Cyprus, diving 38 places within a year and ranking 108th this year from 70th in 2021.
In the 180 countries and territories ranked by RSF, indicators are assessed on the basis of a quantitative survey of press freedom violations and abuses against journalists and media.
And a qualitative study based on the responses of hundreds of press freedom experts selected by journalists, academics and human rights defenders to a questionnaire with 123 questions.
The questionnaire has been updated to take better account of new challenges, including those linked to media digitalisation.
