The world's Press Freedom in 2018 [1]
Thursday, May 3, 2018 - 23:13
The media worldwide today, 3 May celebrates the 25th World Press Freedom Day, under the theme ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’.
This year’s theme covers the issues of media and the transparency of the political process, the independence and media-literacy of the judicial system, and the accountability of state institutions towards the public.
The World Press Freedom Day was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO will celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day with the Government of Ghana in Accra.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme has sparked off some interesting discussions, particularly since it came about a week after the Reporters Without Borders published its 2018 World Press Freedom Index, ranking 180 countries according to the level of Freedom available to journalists.
The top 10 countries in this year’s list are: Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Jamaica, Belgium, New Zealand, Denmark and Costa Rica.
From the Pacific, it was topped by New Zealand at No. 8 in the world ranking followed by Australia 19, Samoa 22, Tonga 51, Papua New Guinea 53 and Fiji 57.
The ranking of other counties that have diplomatic relation with Tonga are: 1 Norway, 2 Sweden, 3 Netherland, 5 Switzerland, 6 Jamaica, 7 Belgium, 9 Denmark, 15 Germany, 18 Canada, 33 France, 40 UK, 43 South Korea, 45 USA, 46 Italy, 67 Japan, 70 Hong Kong, 87 Israel, 133 Philippines
138 India, 145 Malaysia, 148 Russia, 151 Singapore, 172 Cuba, 176 China.
North Korea at No. 180, was at the bottom of the list.