SATURDAY was World Press Freedom Day. Usually, the day passes without much fanfare, reserved for idealists and people of the pen who believe that their craft is a catalyst for a more democratic society and the liberty for dissent and alternative views.

However, with the dawn of the Abdullah administration four years ago, the media – both mainstream and alternative – have been enjoying greater liberties in shaping public opinion and nurturing reforms.

This paper at least is committed to “telling it as it is”. The exposes and columns that have graced the cover and opinion pages would have been close to impossible under the previous administration.

The results of the March general election – spurred by the popularity of the alternative as well some traditional media in giving space to the Opposition – further proved that the freer media played a big part in the unprecedented outcome.

The prime minister was even faulted by some in his own party for being too lenient with the media, resulting in the ruling coalition’s poorer-than-usual showing.

But Abdullah’s loosening of the grip on the press – which has been in a stranglehold for more than 22 years – should have boosted our standing in press freedom indices.

But why are we still languishing at No. 141 among a pool of 195 countries in Freedom House’s Global Press Freedom rankings released last week? Why are we in the same league as Liberia and Cameroon?

Could it be that the greater press freedoms we have been enjoying also bring with them more onslaughts by the powers-that-be? Many newspaper and on-line editors can attest to the many citations, haul-ups and phone-calls over one report, comment or another.

The fact that annual licensing is required to continue publishing newspapers is always at the back of one’s mind. So, in effect the so-called “greater press freedoms” is a fallacy as at the end of the day, although one is “allowed” to write or comment more than usual, it is usually with a caveat akin to “publish and be damned!”

And with the Printing Presses and Publications Act hovering over the heads of editors and media owners, this sword of Damocles will continue to coerce many a press into submission and self-censorship.