Media Coverage of the 2013 Press Freedom Index: An uncritical media response?

Reporters Without Borders (‘RSF’), along with Freedom House, IFEX and others, produce international league tables on press freedom. These rank each nation’s commitment to freedom of journalists and expression. Whilst experts occasionally question the methodological robustness of ‘Press Freedom Indices’ they are often seen as powerful tools in public advocacy and debate. This begs the question of what kind of media response this Press Freedom Index actually generates. In the wake of publication of RSF’s 2012-13 data, LSE’s Matilde Beccatti looks at the initial media coverage among journalists, bloggers and the twittersphere. What is the advocacy impact of the index?