The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has voiced serious concern over the country’s continued decline on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Jamaica now ranks 26th globally, a two-place drop from last year, and continues a worrying downward trend that the PAJ warns must not be ignored.
“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,” said the PAJ in a statement issued Friday.
The PAJ, led by the Jamaica Observer’s Business Content Manager Dashan Hendricks, noted that Jamaica once held a top 10 spot, reaching as high as sixth 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,” the association said.
In its 2025 report, timed to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3, RSF observed that although press freedom in Jamaica has generally improved over the past two decades, a “growing gulf of distrust between government officials and the media” has contributed to declining institutional respect for journalism.
RSF cited several troubling incidents, including a shooting at Nationwide Radio’s Kingston offices in September 2023 and attacks on a Television Jamaica videographer and a Gleaner reporter during a 2022 teachers’ protest in St. Catherine. “Physical attacks are rare, but they do happen,” RSF noted. “Reporters must continue to measure the threat posed to them by the country’s high crime rate when they are investigating a sensitive subject.”
“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 organization added in relation to the Nationwide incident.
The PAJ echoed those concerns, emphasizing what it called 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.
One major flashpoint is a recent Supreme Court ruling in a defamation case against The Gleaner, which the PAJ says jeopardizes the longstanding legal protection of journalists covering Parliament. “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 association warned.
The PAJ also criticized the ongoing failure to revise the Access to Information (ATI) Act, calling it a significant structural weakness. “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,” it said.
The association urged the Government to fast-track the tabling and debate of revised ATI legislation, reduce turnaround times on ATI requests, properly equip public authorities, and implement penalties 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,” the PAJ added.
The association also called for greater transparency in state advertising allocation, support for sustainable independent journalism, and enhanced media literacy initiatives.
“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,” the PAJ declared.
 has voiced serious concern over the country’s continued decline on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.){kind=link}