Reporters Without Borders: Freedom of the Press Endangered in Europe as Well
In a Reporters Without Borders index on press freedom, six European countries are ranked in the top ten, including Switzerland. However, press freedom is also under threat in Europe.
Freedom of the press is particularly respected in Switzerland, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. In the six countries, the legal safeguards for the media and the high level of respect for the important work of journalists in democratic systems are exemplary, said the organization Reporters Without Borders ROG on Tuesday in New York at the presentation of its country ranking. These European countries set an example of respect for journalists and protection of the media. In addition, the six countries show consistency. Since the survey began in 2002, all of them have ranked first at least once. New Zealand is the only non-European country in the top ten. It ranks eighth, behind Austria and ahead of Estonia.
The EU states are in danger of losing their leading position in safeguarding press freedom. Although 13 of the 27 EU member states are represented in the top 20, the other 14 rank significantly lower, the report continues. France, for example, is only 44th and Italy 49th, with violations of source protection a fundamental problem in both countries, as well as the increasing concentration of media ownership and the subpoenaing of journalists.
However, the situation is even worse in Romania, which is ranked 52nd. Greece lost as many as 35 places and now ranks last among the EU countries, along with Bulgaria, and is in joint 70th place with Benin, Kenya and the Comoros. ROG attributes the sharp downward trend in Greece to threats against journalists and physical attacks on media people during demonstrations.
In the annual report, ROG's secretary general, Jean-François Julliard, says that European states urgently need to regain their role as role models. And he called on China to release the Nobel Peace Prize-winning civil rights activist Liu Xiaobao from prison. The fate of human rights activists, journalists and bloggers who courageously defended the right to freedom of expression was the organization's constant concern, Julliard said.
In addition to China, however, North Korea, Burma, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Turkmenistan and, for the fourth time in a row, Eritrea are among the bottom 178 countries. Syria and Rwanda are in the bottom ten for the first time. Where press freedom is worst is becoming increasingly difficult to say, the organization said. In all ten states, the media are persecuted and citizens are deprived of news and information.
That is why, according to Julliard, the defense of press freedom continues to be a struggle a struggle against oppression and injustice in totalitarian regimes worldwide and a struggle of vigilance in the democracies of old Europe.
The EU states are in danger of losing their leading position in safeguarding press freedom. Although 13 of the 27 EU member states are represented in the top 20, the other 14 rank significantly lower, the report continues. France, for example, is only 44th and Italy 49th, with violations of source protection a fundamental problem in both countries, as well as the increasing concentration of media ownership and the subpoenaing of journalists.
However, the situation is even worse in Romania, which is ranked 52nd. Greece lost as many as 35 places and now ranks last among the EU countries, along with Bulgaria, and is in joint 70th place with Benin, Kenya and the Comoros. ROG attributes the sharp downward trend in Greece to threats against journalists and physical attacks on media people during demonstrations.
In the annual report, ROG's secretary general, Jean-François Julliard, says that European states urgently need to regain their role as role models. And he called on China to release the Nobel Peace Prize-winning civil rights activist Liu Xiaobao from prison. The fate of human rights activists, journalists and bloggers who courageously defended the right to freedom of expression was the organization's constant concern, Julliard said.
In addition to China, however, North Korea, Burma, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Turkmenistan and, for the fourth time in a row, Eritrea are among the bottom 178 countries. Syria and Rwanda are in the bottom ten for the first time. Where press freedom is worst is becoming increasingly difficult to say, the organization said. In all ten states, the media are persecuted and citizens are deprived of news and information.
That is why, according to Julliard, the defense of press freedom continues to be a struggle a struggle against oppression and injustice in totalitarian regimes worldwide and a struggle of vigilance in the democracies of old Europe.
