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The targeted suppression or manipulation of the media in conflict regions such as Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories is one of the most significant reasons for the general worsening of worldwide press freedom, according to the 2015 index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The organization said many countries cite the protection of national security interests to impose restrictions on press freedom. "Journalists become the preserve of the opposing parties when control over information is used as a strategic war aim as is the case currently in eastern Ukraine or Syria," said RSF spokesman Michael Rediske in Berlin.

RSF's annual index evaluates the situation of press freedom in 180 countries. It is based on a survey of all aspects of independent journalistic work, which the non-profit organization sends out to hundreds of journalists, researchers, lawyers, and human rights activists worldwide, as well its own network of correspondents. The 87 questions focus on media diversity, media independence, the journalistic environment and self-censorship, the legal system, institutional transparency, as well as media production infrastructure. There is also a category for "acts of violence and infringements," which the Paris-based organization keeps a record of independently. This accounts for all incidents between October 2013 and October 2014.

Many NATO member countries and stable democracies still fall short of a 'good' score

Truth - the first casualty of war

In the notes accompanying the current index, RSF said many of the armed conflicts of the past year were partly conducted as information wars. Whether in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, the war between Israel and Hamas, or in South Sudan, the opposing sides attempted to shut down independent news sources or use them to broadcast their own propaganda.

National security as a cover for repression

In many countries, supposed threats to national security served to justify restrictions on press freedom and other basic civil rights. Russia, for example, used the war with Ukraine to impose further repressive laws, including tightening a ban on publicly denouncing breaches of territorial integrity effectively criminalizing any critique of the annexation of Crimea.

Kazakhstan introduced a law allowing pre-censorship in times of social unrest in order to arm itself for protests such as in Ukraine.

RSF frequently stages demonstrations highlighting journalists' plight

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Reporters Without Borders: New threats against freedom of the press