According to the latest press freedom index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in 2023 Lebanon ranks very low: 146 out of 180 covered countries. Media freedom, violations against journalists, as well as political interferences are the subject of two media studies released this year by the Lebanese Alternative Press Syndicate with support from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
The studies discuss in detail the situation of Lebanese journalists concluding that “75% of the professionals have experienced some form of repression.” Furthermore, the studies advance a set of recommendations that aim to improve working conditions and legal provisions as well as to regulate political control over media outlets.
The studies are available for reading in Arabic, with an English summary, presented here.
MJRC welcomes the issuance of the studies, a solid source of information for our center’s work in the ongoing project “Supporting Media Reform in Lebanon to Enhance Freedom of Expression” led by our local partners, Maharat and Legal Agenda.