Jamaica has slipped 20 places in the latest World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

In the 2023 Index, published on Wednesday, which is celebrated as World Press Freedom Day, RSF lists Jamaica at 32nd out of 180 countries.

This is a sharp decline from the 12th place which Jamaica was ranked in the 2022 Index.

But despite the sharp decline, RSF continues to applaud Jamaica for its level of press freedom.

“In the past one to two decades, freedom of the press has continued to improve in Jamaica, and the right to information is widely respected. The country thus continues to rank among the safest in the world for journalists,” says RSF.

“The Jamaican free press often openly criticises officials, and journalists have occasionally reported intimidation while doing their work, particularly ahead of an election,” added RSF.

In its hint of what could have led to Jamaica’s decline, RSF said: “Physical attacks are rare, but they do happen. A videographer for Television Jamaica and a reporter for the Jamaica Gleaner were attacked in November 2022 while covering a teachers’ protest in St Catherine… when a man interrupted their interview and damaged their equipment.

“Apart from this incident, no acts of violence against journalists had been recorded in the past 10 years. Still, reporters must measure the threat posed to them by the country’s high crime rate when they are investigating a sensitive subject.”