European countries slip in the press freedom rankings

Europe is no longer setting such an example in press freedom, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) declared on launch of its eighth annual index.

"It is disturbing to see European democracies such as France, Italy and Slovakia fall steadily in the rankings year after year," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard.

"Europe should be setting an example as regards civil liberties. How can you condemn human rights violations abroad if you do not behave irreproachably at home? The Obama effect, which has enabled the United States to recover 16 places in the index, is not enough to reassure us,'' he said.

Each year RSF compiles evidence supplied by journalists and media experts to form its study ranking the performance of countries around the world, which can be found at this link.

While the first 13 places are still held by European countries, France has dropped to 44, Slovakia to 44 and Italy to 49. The UK was up three places from 23 to 20.

'Young democracies' in Africa - Mali, South Africa and Ghana - and the western hemisphere - Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago - have overtaken them in the rankings, the release said.
 
Spain (44) and Croatia (78) were also of concern, the campaigning organisation said.

The release comes at a time when the UK is immersed in its own battle for press freedom from the courts. Yesterday MPs debated the impact of libel laws on reporting Parliament following the Guardian-Trafigura fall-out and today the National Union of Journalists has expressed its intention to fight government plans to hold some inquests in private.

For RSF's full findings follow this link.

Follow Journalism.co.uk's @press_freedom: Tracking media freedom and international journalism around the world.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).