Press Freedom report 2008

Reporters sans frontières release the 2008 Press Freedom report today. While the figures are depressing they are better than 2007,

“The figures may be lower than last year’s but this should not mask the fact that intimidation and censorship have become more widespread, including in the west, and the most authoritarian governments have been taking an even tougher line. The quantitative improvement in certain indicators is often due to journalists becoming disheartened and turning to a less dangerous trade or going into exile. We cannot say that 60 deaths, hundreds of arrests and systematic censorship offer grounds for optimism.” link

For comparison, in 2007; 86 journalists were killed, 20 media assistants were killed, 887 journalists were arrested, 1,511 were physically attacked or threatened, 528 media outlets were censored, 67 journalists were kidnapped.