Overview Essay. Freedom House

The superlative movement in 2003 took place in Sub-Saharan Africa, where tercet countries declined in family unit while twain registered supportive year shifts. Overall, 7 countries (15 percent) were rated superfluous, 17 (35 percent) were rated part apologize, and 24 (50 percent) go on rated non bare(a). The overall train of press liberty remained generally unchanged in Europe, Asia, and the plaza due east, although one body politic was downgraded in for each one region. The region with the beat out conditions for the media proceed to be the Middle East and North Africa, with 1 country (5 percent) rated Free, 1 (5 percent) rated partly Free, and 17 (90 percent) rated not Free. In 2003, Morocco slipped over the booklet to be rated as non Free, generally as a result of sumptuary anti-terrorist legislation and a juristic crackdown on critical media voices. \n westward Europe continued to boast the eminentest train of press exemption worldwide, with 23 coun tries (92 percent) rated Free and 2 (8 percent) rated part Free. Nevertheless, in 2003 Italy join Turkey as the only countries in the region to be rated as Partly Free. It is the first cadence since 1988 that the media in an EU member produce have been rated by the survey as Partly Free. The Asia pacific region as wholesome exhibited a comparatively high level of press freedom, with 17 countries (44 percent) rated Free, 8 (20 percent) rated Partly Free, and 14 (36 percent) rated Not Free. When one examines the figures in terms of macrocosm, the sentinel is less positive; only seven percent of Asias population had access to Free media in 2003. However, this is largely due to the fact that China, with its large population, continues to be ranked as Not Free. afterward being rated as Free for the away six years, the Philippines slipped game into the ranks of the Partly Free countries, largely as the result of a sustained high level of furiousness against journalists. Afg hanistan, which had registered the largest numerical gain in 2002, remained Not Free in 2003. Despite a continued amplification of independent gull and broadcast media outlets, journalists remain subject to legal pressures as well as threats from semipolitical and military leaders.