Czechia climbs press freedom ranks as economic threats mount globally

Czechia has jumped seven places to rank 10th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, standing out as one of Europe’s bright spots in a year marked by a global decline in media independence, according to Paris-based watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Released this week, RSF's annual index warns that while physical attacks on journalists remain a visible danger, economic pressure is now the most serious threat to press freedom worldwide.

“Press freedom in Czechia is threatened by the high concentration of private media and the online hatred directed against journalists. But Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s ruling coalition has carried out several beneficial legislative changes,” RSF stated in its report.

Among the key reforms, RSF praised the Czech government’s move to raise the license fee that finances public broadcasting—a first in two decades—describing it as a vital step toward safeguarding media independence. Public funding, RSF emphasized, has become a key indicator of a country’s commitment to press freedom.

While Czechia strengthened its standing, neighboring Slovakia fell nine places to 38th, with public broadcasters there facing deep budget cuts and increasing political interference.

RSF also highlighted the U.S. government’s funding cuts to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), headquartered in Prague, as a blow to independent journalism in the region, particularly in post-Soviet states.

Across Central and Eastern Europe, independent outlets are grappling with shrinking revenue, limited public support, and increasing concentration of media ownership.

“Media are trapped between striving for independence and surviving economically,” RSF noted, citing growing reliance on advertisers and declining resilience in public funding.

Even traditionally strong press freedom nations like Germany (11th) and France (25th) were criticized for not providing financial support for public media.

This year’s index paints a stark global picture. For the first time, RSF rated the global state of press freedom as “difficult,” the index’s economic indicator dropped to its lowest level since its inception.

In the Gaza Strip, nearly 200 journalists have been killed by the Israeli military, according to RSF, pushing Palestine to 163rd place in the rankings. Israel also dropped significantly, falling 11 places to 112th.

Norway once again topped the index as the country with the freest press. Eritrea ranked last, falling even below North Korea.