Austria Climbs to 22nd Place in the Latest Press Freedom Ranking

Austria has made significant strides in the latest Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), moving up ten positions to secure the 22nd spot globally. This notable improvement comes after a disappointing drop to 32nd place in the previous year's ranking.

The assessment is based on five key indicators, and for 2025, all indicators point towards a positive trend, as highlighted by RSF Secretary General Martin Wassermair. Austria's overall score improved to 3.43 points, reflecting a marked recovery compared to last year. The most substantial gain was seen in the economic context, which rose by 4.53 points.

RSF President Fritz Hausjell expressed cautious optimism regarding this progress, attributing it primarily to reforms in media funding that have halted the downward trend of recent years. Enhanced financial support for quality journalism and assistance for digital transformation have played crucial roles in this turnaround. However, Hausjell also voiced concerns about the current state of media support, noting that the bulk of governmental financial aid continues to favor tabloid media, with insufficient backing for new and especially diverse digital outlets.

Despite the advancements, RSF underscores that serious challenges remain. A segment of the population has increasingly adopted a skeptical view towards journalistic media, a situation exacerbated by the rhetoric of far-right political factions, which have sought to delegitimize critical journalism by labeling it as 'fake news' or 'system media.'

Positive changes contributing to this year's ranking included the long-awaited passage of a freedom of information law, which is set to take effect on September 1. Furthermore, the safety of journalists has improved, attributed to a decrease in protests and related violent incidents compared to the 2024 Press Freedom Index.

While RSF acknowledges the progress made in 2025, they emphasize that there is still a considerable distance to cover to return to the top ten rankings, a position Austria held until 2015. At the global level, the leading countries in press freedom are predominantly located in Northern Europe, with Norway retaining the top position, followed by Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Ireland.

RSF's report also highlights that economic challenges faced by media outlets represent one of the most significant threats to press freedom worldwide. Factors such as economic pressures, concentration of ownership, advertising and funding influences, and often inadequate transparency in public financing have emerged as critical issues affecting the media landscape.