-Caveat Lector- >From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/2354077.stm
Wednesday, 23 October, 2002, 17:50 GMT 18:50 UK World press freedom ranked This is the first time press freedom has been ranked The international journalism pressure group Reporters Without Borders has published a list judging 139 countries on their respect for press freedom. At the top of the list are Finland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands. North Korea, China and Burma are at the other end of the scale. Top 10 1 - Finland, Iceland, Norway, Netherlands 5 - Canada 6 - Ireland 7 - Germany, Portugal, Sweden 10 - Denmark There are some surprises for Western governments - the United States ranks below Costa Rica and Italy scores lower than Benin. The pressure group's list - the first of its kind - has been compiled according to levels of censorship, arrests and killings of journalists, state monopoly ownership and legal restrictions. Asia ruled worst Rich countries do not have a monopoly on press freedom, according to the report. Costa Rica (ranked 15) and Benin (11) were identified as leaders among poorer nations. Nor is a democratic government a guarantee of press freedom - democracies such as Colombia (114) and Bangladesh (118) are far down the list. Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi also owns a media empire The report from the Paris-based organisation said the situation is particularly bad in Asia, home to the worst four offenders - North Korea, China, Burma and Turkmenistan. Reporters Without Borders said in the worst countries "press freedom is a dead letter and independent newspapers do not exist". The only media sources are tightly controlled or monitored by the government, and the few independent journalists left in these countries are constantly harassed, the report says. In contrast, the top four countries are labelled as states which "scrupulously respect press freedom in their own countries, but also speak up for it elsewhere". Israel scores badly The US' 17th place was lowered because of the number of journalists arrested for refusing to reveal their sources, the report says. EU member countries score well in the list - except for Italy, ranked 40th. Bottom 10 139 - N Korea 138 - China 137 - Burma 136 - Turkmenistan 135 - Bhutan 134 - Cuba 133 - Laos 132 - Eritrea 131 - Vietnam 130 - Iraq According to Reporters Without Borders, news diversity in Italy is under serious threat, as Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi continues to combine his job as head of government with being the boss of a privately owned media group. Elsewhere, the organisation places the Palestinian Authority (82) higher than Israel (92) in terms of press freedom. Israel's ranking was hurt by what the pressure group claims are "a large number of violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" in the West Bank and Gaza. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; I don't believe everything I read or send (but that doesn't stop me from considering it; obviously SOMEBODY thinks it's important) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." --- Ernest Hemingway <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
