In Freedom of the Press 2011: A Global Survey of Media Independence, the latest version of an annual index published since 1980, the Washington DC-based Freedom House assesses press liberties in 196 countries in 2010.
Looking at print, broadcast, and Internet sources, Freedom House ranked Iran 188th—that is, ninth from the bottom—with a rating of 91 out of a possible 100 (100 being least free). The top three countries for press freedom in 2010 were Finland (10), Norway (11) and Sweden (11). The United States, scoring 17, tied with five other countries as 17th. Canada and Britain tied for 26th.
The ratings were based on three assessments—a country’s legal controls on the content or ability of media to function; political influences such as censorship and extralegal intimidation methods; and economic pressures on media outlets as a result of ownership, production and dissemination costs, and content.
Under those considerations, the most notable declines in freedom of the press occurred in Latin America, followed by Central and Eastern Europe. Historically the Middle East and Africa have been and continue to be the most restrictive regions, but Freedom House said the most significant improvements last year were seen in sub-Saharan Africa as a result of new elections, the removal of tyrannical leaders and legal reform to support journalists, stated the report.
Overall, a mere15 percent of the world’s population live in a country where traditional and Internet-based media are allowed to function independently and without excessive restrictions, Freedom House said.
Freedom House is not the only group to reproach Iran for its treatment of journalistic freedoms. According to the annual list from the Paris-based media advocacy organization, Reporters Without Borders, the Islamic Republic’s leaders are among the “predators” of press freedom.
The group cites by name President Ahmadi-nejad and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenehi. It says the Supreme Leader “is responsible for the continuing crackdown on journalists and others.” President Ahmadi-nejad “closely supervises the list of journalists to be arbitrarily arrested. A score of media outlets have been shut down by the Culture Ministry’s censorship arm,” says Reporters without Borders.
Both Khamenehi and Ahmadi-nejad are “the architects of a relentless crackdown marked by Stalinist-style trials of opposition politicians, journalists and human rights activists.”
The eight countries rated as having less press freedom than Iran are Cuba, Belarus, Myanmar, Eritrea, Libya, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and, in 196th and bottom position as usual, North Korea.