Malta has fallen 12 places in the press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders today.

Last year, Malta had dropped 18 places from 47^th to 65^th place, and this year it fell further back to 77^th 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.