Press Freedom Index (Reporters Without Borders) – The index uses pooled expert opinions and quantitative data on abuses and violence against the media in different countries all over the world to rank them for press freedom. An online questionnaire with 87 questions is sent to a select group of media professionals, sociologists and lawyers.
The themes evaluated under the questionnaire are pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and infrastructural support for producing news and information.
The final country-wise score is calculated by combining the questionnaire responses and data about abuses against journalists during the period of evaluation. A higher rank on the index signifies lesser incidents of abuse against journalists and better press freedom.