IWPC panel flags press freedom concerns citing decline in India’s global ranking

The Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPF) on Sunday observed World Press Freedom Day with a panel discussion titled “Safeguarding Press Freedom Amidst Global Upheaval,” bringing together senior media professionals and journalists to deliberate on the mounting challenges facing the press in India and across the world.

Held in New Delhi, the event came amid concerns over India’s position in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, where the country slipped to 157th out of 180 nations, marking a drop of six places from the previous year. Speakers described the decline as troubling and stressed the need for urgent institutional and policy-level interventions to safeguard press freedom.

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‎The discussion featured prominent media figures including C.K. Naik, president of the Press Association; Raghavan Srinivasan, general secretary of the Editors Guild of India; and Dr. Waiel Awwad, president of the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia, alongside a gathering of journalists.

‎Dr. Awwad cautioned that attacks on journalists are increasingly becoming targeted rather than incidental. “This is part of a systematic attempt to stop the truth from being told,” he said, calling for stronger international safeguards to protect reporters, particularly in conflict zones. He cited recent targeted killings of journalists in Gaza as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by media professionals.

“Highlighting structural concerns within the industry, Srinivasan said, “Many troubling trends in the media have become normalised, from ownership-driven bias to editorial pressure.” He also pointed to the financial strain on traditional media, noting that shrinking audiences and leadership challenges are directly affecting both sustainability and editorial independence. He expressed concern that younger journalists may not fully grasp the core values of the profession in the current climate.

‎Naik, meanwhile, emphasised internal challenges within the media fraternity, describing it as increasingly fragmented. “We have become our own enemy,” he said, attributing this to weak collective resistance and the declining strength of press bodies at a time when unity is critical.

‎Concluding the discussion, IWPC president Sujata Raghavan underscored the responsibility of the media community to uphold democratic principles. “We are here to collectively reflect, speak up, and build a more robust environment for journalism, which remains central to the democratic ethos,” she said.

‎The event reflected growing concern within journalistic circles over issues of press freedom, institutional independence, and the safety of media professionals, with participants calling for both national and global efforts to address these pressing challenges.