Global survey shows positive gains in press freedom in Phl

WASHINGTON – Freedom House gave the Philippines a shout out in its global survey of media independence for continuing to make positive gains in press freedom.

It said the Philippines jumped in the world rankings to 88th place from 93rd previously.

The country also improved its rating to 42 points from 46 points previously after a major decline in 2009 – due to a reduction in violence against journalists, attempts by the government to address impunity and expanded diversity of media ownership.

Of 197 countries and territories assessed in 2011, a total of 66 were rated free, 72 were rated partly free, and 59 were rated not free. 

Freedom House assigns a numerical ranking to each country based on the legal environment in which media outlets operate, political influences on reporting and access to information and economic pressures on content and the dissemination of news.

Each country in the rankings receives a score from 0 (the most free) to 100 (the least free) which serves as the basis for an overall press freedom designation of free, partly free, or not free.

Finland, Norway and Sweden tied in 1st place with 10 points each in the latest ranking. At the bottom in 197th place was North Korea with 97 points.

The Asia-Pacific region as a whole exhibited a relatively high level of press freedom in 2011, with 15 countries and territories rated free, including Australia, Japan and Taiwan.

Thirteen countries were rated partly free, including ASEAN members Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Other ASEAN members Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar were among the 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region rated not free.

Freedom House is a Washington-based independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of print, broadcast and Internet freedom around the world and advocates for democracy and human rights.