In Russia, the often dangerous consequences of reporting on corrupt government officials has a chilling effect on the nation's journalism

Today is World Press Freedom day and to mark the occasion the independent watchdog organization, Freedom House was among those issuing its own survey on the state of the global media. Its 20-10 Freedom of the Press report shows free thought and free speech under a growing threat - with press freedom declining worldwide in 2009, with setbacks registered in almost every region. Press freedom has receded for the eighth consecutive year, producing a world in which only one in six people live in countries with access to free media. In Russia for example, the often dangerous consequences of reporting on corrupt government officials or crime bosses has had a chilling effect on the nation's journalism.