Freedom House Says World Press Less Free in 2007

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.” According to a new survey from Freedom House, only 18% of the human race in 2007 lived where the press was free. Another 40% lived where the press was partly free. A plurality live where the press isn’t free at all. This is the sixth straight year of diminishing press freedom according to the think tank.

According to Freedom House’s website, “Countries are given a total score from 0 (best) to 100 (worst) on the basis of a set of 23 methodology questions divided into three subcategories. Assigning numerical points allows for comparative analysis among the countries surveyed and facilitates an examination of trends over time. The degree to which each country permits the free flow of news and information determines the classification of its media as ‘Free,’ ‘Partly Free,’ or ‘Not Free.’ Countries scoring 0 to 30 are regarded as having ‘Free’ media; 31 to 60, “Partly Free’ media; and 61 to 100, ‘Not Free’ media.”

The methodology is a little fuzzy with numbers being used where numbers really aren’t rock solid. Assigning numbers is how Olympic ice skating and gymnastics are scored, and this journal has little respect for that approach. Two of the questions are “Is freedom of information legislation in place, and are journalists able to make use of it? (0–2 points). Can individuals or business entities legally establish and operate private media outlets without undue interference? (0–4 points).” Why are there extra points for the second?

Nevertheless, the survey is useful in shining the spotlight in some dark places. Out of 195 countries and territories, 72 (37%) were rated Free, 59 (30%) Partly Free, and 64 (33%) were Not Free. The countries on the Naughty list include: Burma, Cuba, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. In fact, North Korea is at the very bottom beating Burma out for the title “Least Free Press on Earth.”

And it is useful in pointing out to some unthinking nationalists that they have some work to do at home. The UK tied with Latvia for 31st place on the list. The US was tied in 16th place with Estonia, Germany, Irealand, Monaco, and St. Lucia – in 15th, Jamaica’s press is actually considered freer than America’s by Freedom House. And the freest press in the world is in Finland and Iceland, two countries whose own languages are spoken almost nowhere which makes accessibility by outsiders a problem.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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