Bad times for journalists
Press freedom is under siege around the world and it's worse off than 10 years ago, according to a recent study. More than 80 percent of the world's population lives in countries that interfere with journalists' work.
Turkey and Ukraine are "not free"
Balanced reporting, security for journalists and minimal or no government influence on the media - Acccording to the NGO, Freedom House, only 14 percent of the world's population in 2013 lived under such circumstances. This is the lowest percentage since 1996. Among those countries considered "not free" with very little or no press freedom are Turkey and Ukraine.
Problem Child: Central Asia
Freedom House examined 197 countries based on the questions "Is press freedom anchored in law?" and "Is there censorship?" The answers were evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, whereby zero was the best grade, followed by categories of "free," "partially free," or "not free." The worst grades were given to Turkmenistan, Usbekistan and Belarus. The best went to the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
Attacks on journalists
In Turkey, there were numerous attacks on journalists. Gökhan Bicici (pictured), for example, was arrested during the protests around Gezi Park in Istanbul. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 40 journalists were jailed in Turkey in early December alone. Press freedom is also under threat in Turkey because media outlets have been taken over by firms close to the government.
Undesired reporting
Attacks on journalists also took place in Ukraine; in particular, during the protests on Maidan Square in Kyiv. One victim was the anti-goverenment journalist, Tetiana Chornovol. Chornovol, who had reported on the luxurious lifestyle of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, thought he was behind the attack. Tens of thousands protested against the president after the incident.
"Stop the lies"
The situations in China und Russia are also critical, where the governments exercise their influence over the media and have passed laws to prosecute undesired opinions on the Internet. In Russia, the RIA Novosti news agency was shut down and taken over by the government. Many Russians do not like what is happening. The protester pictured above is carrying a sign that reads "Stop the lies."
Eavesdropping on journalists
The United States is a country with a free press, but the government's information policy is increasingly being questioned. Access to information is more frequently denied for national security reasons and journalists are being asked to name their sources, according to the Freedom House study. The government also tapped the telephone of an Associated Press news reporter.
Relapse to the days of Mubarak
Developments in Egypt are being viewed with alarm. The situation has worsened since the ouster of President Morsi, who was already considered an enemy of press freedom. But since the military coup in mid-2013, numerous journalists have been arrested and at least five died "at the hands of the military," says Freedom House. The media are mostly government-friendly and independent news is rare.
Mali recovering
But there are also positive developments; for example, in Mali. A certain degree of order has been restored with the presidential election there and the expulsion of Islamist rebels from most parts of the country. Many media outlets that were closed after the 2012 coup are operating again. But the good news was overshadowed by the deaths of two French journalists in November 2013.
Positive trend in Kirgistan and Nepal
Other countries in which press freedom has improved include Kyrgystan (above), where fewer attacks against journalists took place in 2013, and Nepal, where political influence on the media diminished. Nevertheless, threats against, and the intimidation of, journalists continue there.