Top marks for SA press freedom
4 May 2006
South Africa's press is less restricted than any press in Asia, the Middle East or South America - and among a handful of the most free in Africa.
This is according to the fourth annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders and released on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May. The report praises African countries for the increasing freedom granted to their journalists.
In a review of 167 countries, Reporters Without Borders' 2005 index rates South Africa's press as the 31st most free in the world - sharing that position with Australia and beating Japan (37th), Spain (40th), Italy (42nd), the US (44th) and Brazil (63th).
African countries that share the top position are Benin and Namibia, both at 25th place, Cape Verde (29th) and Mauritius (34th). Countries in the top 50 are said to have "genuine press freedom".
"More African countries are moving up into the top half of the index each year," Reporters Without Borders says in its report, "thanks to their progress in the fight against impunity and the abolition of prison terms for press offences such as libel and slander and the printing of inaccurate news.
"While those that usually respect press freedom … kept their positions in 2005, Mozambique jumped from 64th to 49th place.
"Decriminalisation of press offences in the Central African Republic lifted the country from 104th to 82nd place and Angola (76th) also improved its ranking further due to legal reforms as it emerged from a long civil war."
The index - covering the period from 1 September 2004 to 1 September 2005 - reflects the degree of freedom journalists and news organisations enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the
state to respect and ensure respect for this freedom.
Europe best, East Asia worst
The greatest press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, is found in Europe. First place in the ranking is jointly held by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland.
The highest-ranked North American country is Canada, at 21st.
North Korea once again comes bottom of the list, closely followed by Eritrea (166th) and Turkmenistan (165th). Reporters Without Borders describes these countries as "black holes" for news, "where the privately owned media is not allowed and freedom of expression does not exist".
"Journalists there simply relay government propaganda," the organisation says. "Anyone out of step is harshly dealt with. A word too many, a commentary that deviates from the official line or a wrongly spelled name and the author may be thrown in prison or draw the wrath of those in power.
"Harassment, psychological pressure, intimidation and round-the-clock surveillance are routine."
How the index is compiled
Reporters Without Borders compiles its index by asking 14 freedom of expression organisations on five continents, 130 correspondents around the world, as well as journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists, to answer 52 questions relating to the state of press freedom in 167 countries.
The questionnaire includes every kind of violation directly affecting journalists (such as murders, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats) and news media (censorship, confiscation of issues, searches and harassment), and registers the degree of impunity enjoyed by those responsible for such violations.
It also takes account of the legal situation affecting the news media - such as penalties for press offences, the existence of a state monopoly in certain areas, and the existence of a regulatory body -
and the behaviour of the authorities towards the state-owned news media and the foreign press.
It also takes account of the main obstacles to the free flow of information on the internet.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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