Reporters Without Borders released the 2016 World Press Freedom Index. According to the report released in Washington D.C., Turkey came in at #151 among 180 countries. Falling back two more spots, Turkey was classified among countries that are difficult for journalism.

In the report shared by Reporters Without Borders US Director Dephine Halgand with media institutions, Turkey was listed between Tajikistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The report says “The war in Syria and Turkey’s offensive against the PKK Kurds are exacerbating the pressure on the media.” Following criticisms about the Turkish administration were mentioned in the report: “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has embarked on an offensive against Turkey’s media. Journalists are harassed, many have been accused of “insulting the president” and the Internet is systematically censored. (...) The media and civil society are nonetheless resisting Erdogan’s growing authoritarianism.”

Finland, the Netherlands and Norway took the lead in press freedom according to the report. The USA rose to rank 41 from last year’s 49th place. The most important reason for the USA’s low ranking is the country’s oppressive attitude towards controlling sources and informants of journalists.

The lowest ranks were shared by Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.

Reporters Without Borders have been issuing the Press Freedom Index since 2002. The index takes pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency and the quality of infrastructure that supports the production of news and information into account.