Karin Bornett
The organization Reporters Without Borders has downgraded Austria by five places in its ranking of press freedom. Thus, the country is now internationally ranked 16. Rubina Möhring, President of Reporters Without Borders Austria, describes this as "alarming". After all, the classification is no longer "good", but only "sufficient".
"The massive deterioration is explained above all by the direct attacks on journalists by politicians. Especially since the beginning of the coalition of the parties ÖVP and FPÖ, direct attacks on the media have become more frequent, "said Reporters Without Borders. For example, the organization cites Armin Wolf's defamation by HC Strache when Strache wrote, "There is a place where lies become news." ORF correspondent Ernst Gelegs was attacked for his coverage of the FPÖ side and standard editor Colette Schmidt is mentioned as a further affected.
"The trend of the previous year that attacks on journalists are no longer limited to autocratic countries or war zones is unfortunately continuing. In many democracies media are perceived as opponents. Especially political leaders are increasingly expressing themselves against media professionals. The result is a climate of fear that makes heavier attacks possible, "the report said.
Global development also offers no cause for delight: "Worldwide, the assessment has deteriorated by 0,5 percent compared to the previous year. Since 2014, there has even been a crash around 11 percent. Overall, 24 percent of 180 countries have a good (white) or sufficient (yellow) situation for press freedom. It was 2018 percent in 26 year. "
Image: Reporters Without Borders
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