India continues to slide down the Press Freedom Index while Singapore has moved up one place. Singapore is ranked 135th on the 2011-2012 Press Freedom Index while India is 131st, having dropped nine places. India was 122nd on the 2010 Press Freedom Index, down from 105th in 2009.
You can download the full version of the latest Press Freedom Index from the Reporters Without Borders website.
Reporters Without Borders says in its report:
In India (131st), journalists were exposed to violence stemming from the persistent conflicts in the states of Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir. The threat from mafia groups operating in the main cities of the country also contributed to self-censorship. However, the authorities were no better. In May, they unveiled the “Information Technology Rules 2011,” which have dangerous implications for online freedom of expression. Foreign reporters saw their visa requests turned down or were pressured to provide positive coverage.
Among English-speaking countries, Canada is 10th, New Zealand 13th, the United Kingdom 28th, Australia 30th and the United States 47th on the 2011-2012 Press Freedom Index.
“The targeting of journalists covering the Occupy Wall Street movement has caused the United States to drop precipitously,” reported the Huffington Post. The United States was 20th in 2010 when the United Kingdom was 19th.
Japan is the highest ranked Asian country on the latest index, in 22nd place. In the top 10 are Finland and Norway (1st), Estonia and Netherlands (3rd), Austria (5th), Iceland and Luxembourg (6th), Switzerland (8th), Cape Verde (9th) and Canada (10th).
South Korea is 44th, Taiwan 45th, Hong Kong 54th, Malaysia 122nd, Thailand 137th, the Philippines 140th and Indonesia 146th.
The survey covers 179 countries. China is 174th, North Korea is 178th and Eritrea 179th.
Related posts:
