Does Free Press Exist in America? Freedom House Makes The Call

Freedom House is an organization that promotes democracy and monitors freedom across the world. An annual study analyzing press freedoms around the world is compiled by the organization, ranking close to 190 countries in how free their press is. Countries are graded on whether they are “free”, “partly free”, or “not free at all.

In their latest 2007 survey, 74 countries were deemed as free, 58 as partly free, and 63 as not free. The U.S. garnered only 16 points for the second straight year, solidifying its status as a top tier country where its extensive legal system and national constitution protect journalists from the persecution found in other “non-free” countries.

The Top Ten Free Nations

1. Finland

“Finland has an impressive newspaper readership, ranking third in the world for circulation in relation to population. Two hundred newspapers are published, including 31 dailies, according to the Finnish Newspaper Association.”

2. Iceland

“Freedom of the press and of expression are protected under Article 72 of the constitution, and the government generally does not interfere in the independent media’s expression of a wide variety of views…including fines or imprisonment for people who belittle the doctrines of officially recognized religious groups…People may face fines and up to two years’ imprisonment for assaults against race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation.”

3. Belgium

“Belgium has two separate public broadcasting organizations (one operating in French and the other in Flemish), each with its own domestic and international broadcasting network. The government does not limit access to the internet, which was used by just under 50 percent of the population in 2006.”

4. Denmark

“Press freedom was put to the test when international furor continued over 12 cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that were published in the Copenhagen daily Jyllands-Posten in September 2005. Several Muslim countries boycotted Danish goods, and Danish embassies came under attack. The cartoonists received death threats, bomb threats were made against the newspaper’s headquarters, and hackers attempted to shut down the daily’s online site.”

5. Norway

“Norway has one of the highest newspaper readerships in the world and distributes over 200 newspapers that express a diversity of opinions.”

6. Sweden

“According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, Sweden is among the top consumers of newspapers in the world. Access to the internet is unrestricted by the government, and 76 percent of the population used the medium in 2006, one of the highest proportions of internet users in the world.

7. Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the world’s richest countries and “is also home to the largest European satellite operator. There is only one public broadcasting station, CLT. Many broadcasters operate only a few hours a day.”

8. Switzerland

“Broadcast media are dominated by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, a public service association subject to private law that operates 7 television networks and 18 radio stations. The corporation is dependent on the government for financing, although its news reporting is politically neutral.”

9. Andorra

“Domestically, there are two daily papers, Diari d’Andorra and El Periodic, as well as two major weekly newspapers, Informacions and 7 Dies. There are approximately 15 radio and 6 television stations.”

10. Netherlands

“The media in the Netherlands are free and independent. Restrictions against insulting the monarch and royal family exist but are rarely enforced. The Netherlands does not have legislation ensuring the right of journalists to protect their sources, although this right can be invoked under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Check Out This VCU’s Student’s Opinion On The United States and its Press

Give me your opinion on the U.S. and it’s press freedoms by voting below!
surveys – CLICK HERE