Monday 24 August 2015

2015 World Press Freedom Index Shows a “Worrying Decline”

In Bangladesh, 4 “atheist” bloggers have been brutally murdered this year.

In Egypt, 22 journalists sit in prison.

The really scary fact, however, is this: of the 180 countries on the 2015 World Press Freedom Index, Bangladesh ranks 146 and Egypt ranks 158. Two countries with little regard for freedom of expression are simply two of many—and are actually more tolerant than dozens.

Reporters Without Borders’ 2015 World Press Freedom Index map and rankings:


The index takes into account each country’s plurality of opinions, media independence, environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, infrastructure and abuses of information providers.

The good: Finland, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, Austria, Canada, Jamaica and Estonia topped the index.

The bad: Laos, Somalia, Iran, Sudan, Vietnam, China, Syria, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea claimed the bottom 10 spots.

The ugly reality: Overall, 2015 Press Freedom showed a “worrying decline” with two-thirds of countries exhibiting a decrease in freedom as compared to 2014. According to the study, reasons for the decline include the continuance of global conflicts, the proliferation of non-state actors, the growth of religious censorship, an increase in opposition to journalists covering demonstrations, a shift in the European Union away from freedom of information, an increased emphasis on “national security” in democracies and non-democracies alike and authoritarian regimes seeking evermore control. 

Know your freedoms, surf secure and stay Rando!

No comments:

Post a Comment