The Press Association of Jamaica, (PAJ) has described the country’s fall in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index as a worrying trend and is calling for greater access to public information, among other things

In the index, published today, Reporters Without Borders said Jamaica fell 2 places from 24 in 2024, to 26 this year.

180 countries are ranked, with Norway having the highest level of press freedom at number 1 and Eritrea, the lowest at 180.

RSF said over the past two decades, freedom of the press as a whole has continued to improve in Jamaica.

However, it noted that there is a growing gulf of distrust between government officials and the media, which has contributed to a decline in institutional respect for press freedom.

In reacting to the report, the PAJ said while Jamaica remains among the top-ranked globally and second in the caribbean, the downward trend is a wake-up call that should not be ignored.

The p-a-j said it is important to recall that Jamaica once held a top 10 position, reaching an all-time high of 6th place in 2020.

The decline over the last five years underscores the urgent need for meaningful interventions to preserve the gains made and strengthen commitment to press freedom.

The PAJ cited reports of a troubling erosion in the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the state.

Of note is growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms.

These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability.

The PAJ pointed out that of particular concern is the recent supreme court ruling in a defamation case against the gleaner.

This case the PAJ said 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.

It said the use of the courts to sanction such reporting is a direct threat to freedom of expression and the media’s role as watchdog.

Additionally, the association noted that a major structural weakness affecting press freedom in Jamaica is the failure to update the access to information, ATI Act.

The PAJ pointed out that without timely and transparent access to public information journalists face unnecessary hurdles in obtaining the facts, increasing their legal exposure and weakening the quality of public discourse.

As such the PAJ has urged the government to expedite the tabling and debating of the revised ATI Legislation.

The PAJ also called for the government to commit to reducing turnaround times on ATI requests; equip all public authorities with the training and resources to comply; and to introduce sanctions for unjustified refusals or delays.

Beyond legislation, the PAJ said Jamaica must also guard against other pressures that compromise media independence.

It noted that 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 has called for greater transparency in state advertising allocation; support for sustainable, independent journalism; and continued education on media literacy and press freedom.