New site looks at press freedom in the world

Freedom House recently expanded a section of its website to provide additional information about press freedom around the world, includng main trends at regional and global levels.

Available at the site are the group maps of press freedom. The photos below are the 2006 global and Asia-Pacific region maps. The photo at left is the map of press freedom for the Philippines. The site describes the Philippine media as "partly free."

"The Philippine press has historically ranked among the freest, most vibrant, and outspoken--if often sensationalized-- in Southeast Asia," Freedom House begins its current press freedom situation in the Philippines. Despite the lack of laws infringing on the freedom of the press, Freedom House noted the high number of journalist killings in the country. "Journalist-targeted violence remains the greatest threat to press freedom in the country," it said.

"Despite the Arroyo administration's launch of a US$92,000 Press Freedom Fund to curb violence against the media, a general culture of impunity continues to predominate," the site said.

Check out Freedom House's new section on press freedom here.

Freedom House Launches New Web-Based Resource on Press Freedom Freedom House is proud to announce an expanded section of its website dedicated to press freedom.

Freedom House today released a new web-based resource providing comprehensive information about press freedom around the world. The website includes global and regional pages highlighting the main trends for each year, as well as detailed historical data since 1980 from the organization’s annual Freedom of the Press survey.

“Freedom of the press is a fundamental right; without it, there can be no freedom of religion or freedom of expression, and there can be no accountability of governments,” said Karin Karlekar, managing editor of the Freedom of the Press survey. “The information posted on Freedom House’s new web pages will equip those who care about press freedom—including reporters who are working tirelessly for a freer media environment in their countries around the world—with information and tools that can increase their effectiveness,” she added.

Other features of the new web pages include annual overview essays summarizing the state of global press freedom, interactive maps showing the state of press freedom for each year since 2002, and reports and ratings for every country in the world. The web pages also contain links to press freedom resources, including Freedom House press releases, op-eds, programmatic activities, and other press freedom and media support groups.

The enhancement of Freedom House’s press freedom website was made possible by the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation.

Considered an authoritative assessment of media freedom around the world, Freedom of the Press: A Global Survey of Media Independence covers 194 countries and territories and rates each country's media as Free, Partly Free, or Not Free. Country narratives examine the legal environment for the media, political pressures that influence reporting, and economic factors that affect access to information.

Freedom House also undertakes advocacy efforts on the issue of press freedom through the publication of special reports and press releases highlighting specific issues such as media controls in China. The organization is also actively involved with other groups in the global press freedom community in organizing events and programs designed to expand the space for free expression around the world.

Freedom House is an independent non-governmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world, through policy advocacy, analysis and publications, and assistance programs to journalists and pres freedom groups in various parts of the world.