EU: pressing for press freedom
3 May marked the twentieth world press freedom day. In France, the foreign affairs ministry has been clamouring after the release of France 3 journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, who have been held hostage in Afghanistan for over four months. In 2010, 3 May is themed around the freedom of information - the UK elections of 6 May alone showed how many MPs were punished by losing their seats, after the ‘expenses scandal’ allowed normal citizens to see how power was being abused. Further east, it’s a trickier story, with reporters barely able to work in former soviet republic conditions; in Croatia for example, crime and corruption are hard realities, cliche as it sounds. Today, Italy and France have been painted as the black sheep of the newrooms
'Free', 'partly free', 'not free': press freedom in Europe
American NGO Freedom House uses three categories to rank the degree of press freedom in countries across the world. On 3 May 2010, world press freedom day, each region of Europe learnt its category: the press in western Europe is 'free', central Europe is 'partly free' and in eastern Europe the press is 'not free'. But there are signs that the trend could change
journalism, european democracy, freedom of expression, corruption, society, censorship
Three Croatian journalists to remember on world press freedom day
When renowned sports journalist Zarko Susic died a natural death aged 95 on 26 April, it was almost a shock that his passing wasn't suspicious. The US-based watchdog Freedom House ranks Croatia 85th in the world for its lack of press freedom
censorship, journalism, media, freedom of expression, society, mafia, law, justice
Europe falls in press freedom rankings
If the old continent believes it still represents the paradigm of press freedom, then it is in for a rude awakening: in the worldwide rankings of freedom of the press published by Reporters Without Borders, many European nations are in a state of free fall. Yet a defence organises for what Kant called 'freedom of the pen'
silvio berlusconi, european media, journalism, rome, anna politkovskaya, wire-tapping , media, politics, society, nicolas sarkozy
