KEJAN HAYNES
Lead Editor – Newsgathering
Trinidad and Tobago has fallen 13 places in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released today by Reporters Without Borders, despite maintaining what the report describes as a “good record” and a “vibrant media landscape.”
The country is now ranked 32nd out of 180 countries, down from 19th in 2025. Its overall score also declined from 79.71 to 74.70, reflecting weaker performance across all five indicators.
In 2025, Trinidad and Tobago ranked 19th globally with a score of 79.71, improving from 25th in 2024 and emerging as the highest-ranked country in the Caribbean.
Despite that standing, Reporters Without Borders had already identified structural pressures affecting the media environment, including political influence, dependence on advertising revenue, high crime levels and a difficult economic climate.
The 2026 results show those pressures have translated into measurable declines across all indicators.
The report highlights what it describes as a “safety paradox” in Trinidad and Tobago.
There were no journalists killed or detained in 2026, continuing a consistent trend in recent years.
The report points to ongoing pressure linked to the relationship between media organisations and political actors, especially during election periods.
Because political parties are major advertising spenders, some media houses feel compelled to maintain favourable relationships across the political spectrum to secure revenue.
This dynamic can lead to less critical reporting, as outlets seek to protect business interests.
The report also highlights broader sociocultural factors, including functional illiteracy, which it says can affect public engagement with journalism and the development of the media sector.
Women journalists are identified as facing disproportionate levels of harassment.
The report also cites long-standing concerns about police corruption, which contribute to a challenging environment for journalists covering sensitive topics.
The report however does not cover the losses of two media houses, LoopTT and the Newsday over the past year.
Every category measured by Reporters Without Borders showed a decline:
● Global overall: 32 (down from 19)
● Political: 39 (down from 28)
● Economic: 25 (down from 12)
● Legal: 35 (down from 32)
● Social: 30 (down from 11)
● Security: 37 (down from 9)
The most significant drops were recorded in the Social and Security indicators, where Trinidad and Tobago had previously ranked among the top performers.
Global context
Globally, Norway remains ranked first for the 10th consecutive year.
The United Kingdom is ranked 18th, while the United States has fallen to 64th.
Reporters Without Borders says press freedom worldwide is now at its lowest level in 25 years, with less than one per cent of the global population living in countries classified as having a “good” level of press freedom.
“Year after year, Trinidad and Tobago maintains its good record in terms of freedom of the press, even though there is still room for improvement.”
