Reporters without Borders every year compiles an index which reflects the degree of freedom that journalists and news organizations experience in every country. They determine this ranking by considering 44 different measures. These measures include violations directly against journalists such as murder, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats. It also includes violations against news media such as censorship, confiscation of newspapers, searches and harassment. It considers the degree to which those responsible for press freedom violations are punished. The index also measures the level of self-censorship in each country and the ability of the media to investigate and criticize. Financial pressure, a commonly applied method for controlling the media, is also assessed and included into the final score. This year they added access to the internet and new media. This includes the authorities blocking websites or conducting online surveillance or obtaining online personal data.
The report states that“Crackdown was the word of the year in 2011. Never has freedom of information been so closely associated with democracy. Never have journalists, through their reporting, vexed the enemies of freedom so much. Never have acts of censorship and physical attacks on journalists seemed so numerous. The equation is simple: the absence or suppression of civil liberties leads necessarily to the suppression of media freedom. Dictatorships fear and ban information, especially when it may undermine them.”
There were 179 countries ranked in 2011. The period evaluated is based solely on events between December 1, 2010 and November 30, 2011. This index looks solely at press freedom violations and should not be considered as an indication of human rights violations in general. Additionally this index is not an indication of the quality of press in the countries concerned.
Of the 179 countries ranked in 2010, Costa Rica ranked 19th overall, but first in the list of Latin American countries. Canada ranks 10th and places first in the hemisphere. Jamaica is second with a rank of 16 and Costa Rica is in third. Costa Rica moved up 10 spots this year, from the last year ranking of 29th.
The United States fell significantly this year to 47th. According to the report this fall of 27 places was due to the many arrests of journalist covering Occupy Wall Street protests. Mexico has a ranking of 149. Finland and Norway tied for first place.
You can read the full report at the Reporters without Borders website.
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