Press freedom increasingly restricted for years
According to the U.S. organization Freedom House, the work of journalists has become more difficult every year over the past eight years. The situation is particularly precarious in Iran, Russia, Italy, and South Africa. In contrast, progress has been made in Asia—except in China.
In the past year, the work of journalists has been significantly hampered, particularly in Iran, in the wake of the protests following the controversial presidential election. Russia remains "one of the most restricted and dangerous media environments in the world", according to a survey published on Thursday by the US organization Freedom House. In Western Europe, there was criticism of Italy, where the government was criticized for having too much influence on the media.
Overall, Freedom House registered an increased obstruction of the media in 2009, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region, in sub-Saharan Africa and in Latin America. In the Middle East and North Africa region, only Israel was certified as having a free media landscape. In contrast, there has been progress in the Asia-Pacific region, with improvements in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Indonesia, for example. Not in China, however. At the top of the list of countries with the least free press in 2009 are Iran, Belarus, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Burma, North Korea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Overall, Freedom House registered an increased obstruction of the media in 2009, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region, in sub-Saharan Africa and in Latin America. In the Middle East and North Africa region, only Israel was certified as having a free media landscape. In contrast, there has been progress in the Asia-Pacific region, with improvements in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Indonesia, for example. Not in China, however. At the top of the list of countries with the least free press in 2009 are Iran, Belarus, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Burma, North Korea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
