World Leader Yet Again ?

[KARL]

It is notable how disinterested UK media are in international comparisons and, instead, they and politicians continually harp on about how the UK is best in the world. Maybe someone on here is interested in looking up the UK in this list https://rsf.org/en/ranking - down from where it was on last year's similar list, together with its favourite buddy, the USofA.

[Zacs-Master]

Don't understand your use of the word 'disinterested' within the context of your question.
The UK has only droped a couple of places.

When reading 'statistics' such as this one has to ask 'what are the originators all about / what axe do they have to grind'.

They are a French based organisation and chose to comment on their own press in 39th place commencing with the following 'Overall, the French media, are free and are fairly well-protected by the law.' and the UK press in 40th place commencing with the following 'A heavy-handed approach towards the press - often in the name of national security - has resulted in the UK slipping down the World Press Freedom Index'

[KARL]

From the viewpoint you suggest, perhaps this one compares with some UK based charts, although they are rather few and difficult to find, where (contrary to the foreign ones, nasty foreigners) the UK is placed in significantly more flattering positions than listings produced elsewhere - although my recollection is of only one such notable example (and it was very glaring). However, France is not placed, by this French organisation, in a very flattering position so it is difficult to conclude there is bias here. The top ten includes "the usual suspects" which top nearly all the many international comparison lists (where, again, the UK languishes well below them).

In observing other national media as well as the UK's, I am continually struck by how foreign media quickly fix onto a perceived "failure" of their own government/authorities/etc./etc. when their country scores poorly - whereas in the UK I see far less of such criticism based on international comparisons (a simple explanation for this probably exists). There are lots of comparisons out there, not just by potentially biased entities but well known and respected ones (UN, WHO, OECD, etc., etc.). I came across this particular list in a foreign medium where it was suggested that country was not doing well enough. It is within the top 10 ! I wonder if this list, or any other comparing freedom of the press, is being mentioned in the UK's media just now or recently - I am unaware of it or any conclusions being aired.