Malta has fallen 12 places in the press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders today.
Last year, Malta had dropped 18 places from 47th to 65th place, and this year it fell further back to 77th place, the report said.
The report measures the level of media freedom by looking at pluralism, independence of the media, the environment and self-censorship.
Reporters Without Borders said criticism of the media was becoming a political weapon that weakened journalism when it became systematic.