THE Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has expressed concern about the island’s slip to 26th place on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

In a media release issued on Friday the PAJ said, “While the country remains among the top-ranked globally and second in the Caribbean, the downward trend is a wake-up call that should not be ignored. This marks a two-place drop from last year’s position and continues a worrying downward trend.

“It is important to recall that the country once held a top 10 position, reaching an all-time high of sixth place in 2020. That decline over the last five years underscores the urgent need for meaningful interventions to preserve the gains made and strengthen our commitment to press freedom,” said the PAJ which is led by the Jamaica Observer’s Business Content Manager Dashan Hendricks.

In its 2025 report to mark World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated on May 3 each year, RSF said, “In the past two decades freedom of the press as a whole has continued to improve in Jamaica. However, there is a growing gulf of distrust between government officials and the media that has contributed to a decline in institutional respect for press freedom.”

The international media watchdog entity pointed to the incident in which shots were fired in the parking lot of Nationwide News Network, its concerns about provisions in the Data Protection Act, and the Criminal Justice and Administration Act which it said has “draconian penalties” for attempting to take a photograph of a criminal defendant outside a courtroom or sketch a prisoner in court.

“RSF’s thoughts are with the journalists and media workers affected by this violent crime, and we implore the authorities to quickly and transparently find the perpetrators and demonstrate to all Jamaicans that crimes against journalists will not go unpunished,” the group said in relation to the incident at Nationwide.

“Impunity for crimes against journalists is a growing problem around the world, which contributes to an ever-more-dangerous environment for news gathering. Press freedom is a fundamental Jamaican value enshrined in its constitution, and the country has historically been a leader on press freedom so we fully expect that culture of impunity to be rejected,” said Clayton Weimers, executive director of RSF United States Bureau.

In its response the PAJ said the RSF report highlights a troubling erosion of the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the State.

“It cites growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms. These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability,” said the PAJ.

The association added that it was particularly concerned over the recent Supreme Court ruling in a defamation case against The Gleaner.

According to the PAJ, the ruling raises very serious concerns about how journalists will continue to benefit from legal protections that have long undergirded effective, timely, and responsible coverage of parliamentary proceedings.

“This move undermines the long-established legal defence of the principle of qualified privilege, which protects journalists who fairly and accurately report on matters discussed in Parliament. The use of the courts to sanction such reporting sends a chilling message to all journalists engaged in parliamentary reporting. It is a direct threat to freedom of expression and the media’s role as watchdog,” the PAJ said.

It added that a major structural weakness affecting press freedom in Jamaica is the failure to update the Access to Information (ATI) Act.

“For years the PAJ and civil society have called for a revised law that reflects the current digital age, limits bureaucratic delay, and removes excessive exemptions. Yet, despite repeated promises, the review remains stalled.

“Timely and transparent access to public information is the lifeblood of a free press. Without it, journalists face unnecessary hurdles in obtaining the facts, increasing their legal exposure and weakening the quality of public discourse,” said the PAJ.

The organisation said it is urging the Government to expedite the tabling and debate of the revised ATI legislation; commit to reducing turnaround times on ATI requests; equip all public authorities with the training and resources to comply; and introduce sanctions for unjustified refusals or delays.

“Beyond legislation, Jamaica must also guard against other pressures that compromise media independence. The concentration of media ownership, heavy reliance on advertising from State and private entities, and the rise of politically affiliated online voices can all distort the information landscape,” said the PAJ.

It also issued a call for greater transparency in State advertising allocation; support for sustainable, independent journalism; and continued education on media literacy and press freedom.

“Press freedom is not a static achievement — it is a continuous effort. Jamaica’s slip in the World Press Freedom Index must be taken seriously. The PAJ remains committed to working with Government, civil society, and the international community to protect the rights of journalists and to ensure that Jamaicans continue to receive accurate, timely, and independent news. A healthy democracy depends on it,” declared the PAJ.