Index ranks the level of freedom available to journalists
In advance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Reporters without Borders has issued its annual nation-by-nation assessment of journalists’ ability to function without interference from governments. Noting that the index does not “reflect the quality of journalism,” the index lists 180 countries in order ranging from virtually no interference from the governments of Norway (1), Finland (2) and Sweden (3), to the heavy-handed obstruction of press freedoms found in Eritrea (178), North Korea (179) and Turkmenistan (180). The United States ranked 48th.
In the Middle East, Tunisia leads the nations at the 72nd slot followed by Israel (88), Lebanon (101), Jordan (130), Palestinian territories (137) and Egypt (163).