'Global decline' in press freedom

[ze_dscherman]

FREEDOM of the press declined substantially around the world in 2003, including a worrisome drop in Italy, according to a survey released today by a pro-democracy non-profit group.

Freedom House's survey of 193 countries found that some of the most serious setbacks occurred both in eroding and established democracies.

"Some of the most serious setbacks took place in countries where democracy is backsliding, such as in Bolivia and Russia, and in older, established democracies, most notably Italy," the organisation said.

ADDED ON EDIT

Freedom House is a nonprofit organisation with offices around the world that aims to promote democratic values such as human rights, free markets and an independent media. It is partially funded by the US government and supports US involvement in global affairs.

More: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9419645%255E1702,00.html

[dbt]

1. I'd like to see the percentage of decline in Amerika.

Oh, wait. The press in this country has voluntarily given up its freedom in order to fully worship King George The Mad. We don't need no stinkin' coercion!

Never mind!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[Devils Advocate NZ]

2. The US ratings are bollocks.

This is what they said about the US media last year (this year's ratings are not yet online):

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT: 5
POLITICAL INFLUENCES: 6
ECONOMIC PRESSURES: 6
TOTAL SCORE: 17
Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, and this
right is generally respected. Nevertheless, in July, a publisher and an
editor in Kansas were convicted of criminal libel, a rarity in the United
States although 19 states permit such prosecution. Official restrictions
on domestic press coverage, begun after the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks, were expanded in preparation for U.S. military action
in Iraq. The U.S. attorney general placed further limits on information
accessible under the Freedom of Information Act, which substantially
increased the volume of classified government information. The Federal
Bureau of Investigation was empowered to conduct surveillance on
the Internet without a court order. While some journalists complained
about heightened secrecy, others accepted war-related restrictions but
feared that such restrictions also hid normal political and economic
information unrelated to military needs. In a policy reversal, however,
the Defense Department began training journalists to accompany
frontline troops. During past military campaigns, the press was either
banned from field coverage or closely “minded” by the military. The
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began considering
further deregulation of broadcast media. For two decades, mergers
and buyouts have steadily reduced the number of persons controlling
the content of large media networks. The FCC’s latest action could
further diminish diversity by allowing more broadcast outlets to be
linked to print media in the same city or region.
http://www.freedomhouse.org/pfs2003/pfs2003.pdf

And they say that the US has not changed much since last year. For comparison purposes, here is New Zealand's rating from last year:

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT: 1
POLITICAL INFLUENCES: 1
ECONOMIC PRESSURES: 6
TOTAL SCORE: 8
Press freedom is provided for by law and is respected, although access to
information is not guaranteed. In December 2001, the government backed
down from a plan to include a criminal defamation clause in the Electoral
Amendment Bill. Independent broadcasters compete with state-owned radio
and television, and New Zealand’s private newspapers and magazines cover
politics tenaciously, offering a range of views. Media organizations criticized
the April 2002 decision of the high court to ban the National Business
Review from reporting on a high-profile case involving a biotech firm.
http://www.freedomhouse.org/pfs2003/pfs2003.pdf