(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI report: Vienna, 30 March 2006 IPI World Press Freedom Review 2005 FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO REPORT The 2005 IPI Review shows that in virtually every region of the world the media are engaged in a struggle to uphold their fundamental right to report news. The high death […]
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI report:
Vienna, 30 March 2006
IPI World Press Freedom Review 2005
FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO REPORT
The 2005 IPI Review shows that in virtually every region of the world the media are engaged in a struggle to uphold their fundamental right to report news.
The high death toll for journalists continued in 2005 with 65 journalists killed ( http://www.freemedia.at/Death_Watch/d_watch2005.htm ). Iraq, where 23 journalists died, remains the world’s most dangerous country for the media. Journalists also died in 21 other countries, including Bangladesh, Haiti, Russia, and Somalia.
There were four journalists killed in eastern Europe, but western Europe’s most significant event was the 7 July London bombings. The attack led to British draft legislation prohibiting the “glorification” of terrorism. In September, an EU policy paper discussed the media’s involvement in “radicalising” terrorism and hinted at voluntary codes of conduct as a solution. These moves signalled a shift in the balance between liberty and security, and also shaped the political debate over the controversial cartoons of Mohammed published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005.
In Asia, where 20 journalists were killed, China is embracing capitalism without introducing the requisite freedoms and continues to imprison journalists. Nine journalists were murdered in the Philippines making it the world’s most hazardous country outside of a conflict zone; while in Sri Lanka, there has been a return to the assassination of journalists for their alleged political affiliations, and in Nepal the media are engaged in a vocal, but unequal battle for press freedom.
With 26 journalists killed, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the most uniformly restricted region in the world. In Iraq, the insurgency has consistently targeted the media and Iraqi journalists are suffering the highest casualties. Two journalists were murdered in Lebanon in an attempt to silence the media on domestic political issues. Four journalists were killed in Africa in 2005 and one of the most serious events was the Ethiopian government’s assault on the independent media that saw journalists arrested for treason. In Zimbabwe, the media are still working under repressive legislation.
In the Americas, where 11 journalists died, there was progress this year with the removal of some desacato (“insult”) laws – in Chile, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama – and a reduction in violent attacks on Venezuelan journalists; however, self-censorship has increased across the region and attacks on journalists in Colombia and Mexico continue. Haiti is now the region’s most dangerous country with three journalists murdered. In the United States, restrictions on access to information and the judicial pursuit of journalists’ sources made it a difficult year for the media.
Commenting on the situation, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said, “A free media has always been essential to democracy; however, 2005 saw a subtle shift in this thinking and there is now a worrying political mindset that views some of the media’s work as damaging to both the war on terror and relations with Islam.”
Read the Press Releases on:
Africa: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFRAfrica2005.htm
The Americas: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFRAmericas2005.htm
The Caribbean: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFRCaribbean2005.htm
Asia: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFRAsia2005.htm
Australasia and Oceania: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFRAustralasia2005.htm
Europe: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFREurope2005.htm
MENA: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2006/pr_WPFRMENA2005.htm
General Introduction: http://service.cms.apa.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail-new.html?ctxid=CH0056&docid=CMS1143542311605
Country Reports: http://service.cms.apa.at/cms/ipi/freedom-new.html