The Reporters Without Borders index seeks to reflect the degree of freedom that journalists and news organisations enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the authorities to respect this freedom.
The index measures violations that directly affect individual journalists – including murder, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats – and the news media in general, whether through censorship, searches or harassment. The scoring also tries to reflect self-censorship and the financial pressures on both media houses and reporters.
European Union
Thirteen of the EU’s members are in the top 20 for press freedom, but others are low in the ranking. France lies in 44th position, Italy is 49th, Romania 52nd, with Greece and Bulgaria tying in 70th place. France and Italy were marked down for violations of the protection of journalists’ sources, concentration of media ownership and displays of contempt by government officials towards journalists and their work.
Pakistan
Many Pakistani journalists have been murdered in recent years, including Syed Saleem Shahzad who was found dead in June after being kidnapped and tortured. A few days before he died, he wrote an article for the Asia Times which alleged that junior naval officers were involved in the Taliban raid on a Karachi naval base. He was on his way to a TV interview about this article when he was kidnapped.
Eritrea
At least 30 journalists have been enduring long spells in detention in appalling conditions, while reporters employed by the state media have to choose between obeying the information ministry or fleeing the country. Foreign journalists are not welcome in Eritrea.
Brazil
Brazil has risen in the rankings after a decline in the number of incidents of serious violence against journalists. There have also been favourable legislative changes in matters relating to access to information and editorial freedom. Internet use in Brazil is one of the highest in the world.
