Press Unfreedom

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has warned that press freedom is under attack. Press freedom deteriorated in two thirds of the world's countries.

 It investigated freedom of media and journalists in 180 countries and found democracies, as well as dictatorships, had increasingly clamped down on press freedom. Researchers found that high-level politicians had used their power to quash media reports.  

In New Zealand, legislation was introduced to dramatically expand the powers of intelligence services against the press. In the US journalists were repeatedly put on trial for reporting on protests. 

 North Korea took over last place from Eritrea, which had occupied the position for a decade. "Even listening to a foreign radio broadcast can lead to a spell in a concentration camp," the report said of North Korea.