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Egypt
Three top leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s most powerful opposition group, were arrested as a part of the government’s ongoing crackdown against the group following their appointment of new leadership. Read more on Egypt at Freedom in the World 2009: Egypt

Ukraine
Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich defeated Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by nearly three percentage points in Ukraine’s runoff election, bringing to power the man who attempted to steal the 2004 presidential election. Read more on Ukraine at Freedom in the World 2009: Ukraine

Iran
Ignoring calls for more severe sanctions against it, Iran announced that it would begin enriching uranium to a higher level of purity for use in a medical reactor, increasing tensions with the US and other countries. Read more on Iran at Freedom in the World 2009: Iran

Nigeria
The Nigerian Parliament voted to install Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as acting president, filling a dangerous power vacuum created by the medically-related absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua since November. Read more on Nigeria at Freedom in the World 2009: Nigeria

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You are here: Analysis > Freedom of the Press > Freedom of the Press 2009 Survey Release

Freedom of the Press 2009 Survey Release

 

Freedom of the Press 2009 identifies the greatest threats to independent media in 195 countries and territories. Released in advance of World Press Freedom Day May 3, the report shows a seventh straight year of decline in global media freedom, with twice as many losses than gains. There are particularly worrisome trends in East Asia, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East and North Africa. Given an economic climate that is certain to further strain media sustainability and diversity in rich and poor countries alike, pressures on media freedom are increasingly threatening the considerable gains of the past quarter century. Below are several critical tools to highlight data from the annual survey of global press freedom, and to help explain the newest findings in their historical context.

 

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Press Release - Read the press release detailing findings from Freedom of the Press 2009.

Charts - The charts feature global and regional breakdowns for our three categories of "Free", "Partly Free", and "Not Free."

Tables - Tables featuring country rankings and numerical scores for the 2009 survey.

Overview Essay - Press Freedom in 2008: Restrictive Laws and Physical Attacks Fuel Further Declines gives a thorough introduction to the state of global press freedom. It details trends identified in media freedom during the 2008 calendar year and offers a snapshot of regional gains and setbacks.

Methodology - View a description of the criteria used in the ratings process for Freedom of the Press 2009. 

Map of Press Freedom 2009 - Each year Freedom House produces a graphic representation of its country ratings in the form of the Map of Press Freedom.

  

Historical Maps - Using data from past reports, Freedom House has developed a series of historical maps which graphically demonstrate trends in media freedom over the past quarter century.

Images from the release event


Click on an image to view the full resolution version

Freedom House Executive Director Jennifer Windsor urged the Obama Administration to take notice of the rising threats against independent journalists worldwide.

In advance of World Press Freedom Day May 3, Freedom House revealed that global press freedom declined for a seventh straight year in 2008.

Dr. Karin Karlekar, managing editor of Freedom of the Press, presented the study's findings and took questions from journalists.

Freedom House released its findings from Freedom of the Press in front of the organization's Map of Press Freedom at the Newseum in Washington.
 

Video from the release event


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