Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 15:19:12 GMT 7
China comes in 5th from the bottom in 2016 World Press Freedom Index
China has managed to maintain its ranking at 176 in the annual World Press Freedom Index, only besting the states of Syria, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.
Released each year by the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the index ranks 180 countries/territories according to the freedom allowed to journalists. The theme for this year was the global clampdown on media by paranoid leaders, as well as reporting that is increasingly being shaped by personal interests. RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire explains:
'It is unfortunately clear that many of the world’s leaders are developing a form of paranoia about legitimate journalism. The climate of fear results in a growing aversion to debate and pluralism, a clampdown on the media by ever more authoritarian and oppressive governments, and reporting in the privately-owned media that is increasingly shaped by personal interests. Journalism worthy of the name must be defended against the increase in propaganda and media content that is made to order or sponsored by vested interests. Guaranteeing the public’s right to independent and reliable news and information is essential if humankind’s problems, both local and global, are to be solved.'
Of course, Chinese leaders have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to paranoia about reporting, but earlier this year Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed to journalists where their loyalty lies; making high-profile visits to state media headquarters in Beijing, declaring that all media must be "surnamed Party" so they can give “correct guidance of public opinion” by "singing the main theme, transmitting positive energy."
In that spirit, reporting about sensitive issues like top leader's connections with off-shore wealth exposed in the Panama Papers has been censored, editors have been fired for headlines with "hidden messages" and journalists have been disappeared.
shanghaiist.com/2016/04/22/press_freedom_ranking_2016.php
China has managed to maintain its ranking at 176 in the annual World Press Freedom Index, only besting the states of Syria, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.
Released each year by the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the index ranks 180 countries/territories according to the freedom allowed to journalists. The theme for this year was the global clampdown on media by paranoid leaders, as well as reporting that is increasingly being shaped by personal interests. RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire explains:
'It is unfortunately clear that many of the world’s leaders are developing a form of paranoia about legitimate journalism. The climate of fear results in a growing aversion to debate and pluralism, a clampdown on the media by ever more authoritarian and oppressive governments, and reporting in the privately-owned media that is increasingly shaped by personal interests. Journalism worthy of the name must be defended against the increase in propaganda and media content that is made to order or sponsored by vested interests. Guaranteeing the public’s right to independent and reliable news and information is essential if humankind’s problems, both local and global, are to be solved.'
Of course, Chinese leaders have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to paranoia about reporting, but earlier this year Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed to journalists where their loyalty lies; making high-profile visits to state media headquarters in Beijing, declaring that all media must be "surnamed Party" so they can give “correct guidance of public opinion” by "singing the main theme, transmitting positive energy."
In that spirit, reporting about sensitive issues like top leader's connections with off-shore wealth exposed in the Panama Papers has been censored, editors have been fired for headlines with "hidden messages" and journalists have been disappeared.
shanghaiist.com/2016/04/22/press_freedom_ranking_2016.php
