Freedom of the Press, an annual report on media independence around the world, was published between 1980 and 2017, and assessed the degree of print, broadcast, and digital media freedom in 199 countries and territories. It provided numerical scores and country narratives evaluating the legal environment for the media, political pressures that influenced reporting, and economic factors that affected access to news and information.
Note: The number in the variable names indicate what time period they refer to.
1: 1979-1987
2: 1988-1992
3: 1993-1995
4: 1996-2000
5: 2001-2016
Last updated by source: 2017-04-28
| Dataset type: | Time-Series |
| Dataset level: | Country |
(Freedom House,
2017)
Economic Influences over Media Content (2001-2016). This category includes the structure of media ownership; transparency and concentration of ownership; the costs of establishing media as well as any impediments to news production and distribution; the selective withholding of advertising or subsidies by the state or other actors; the impact of corruption and bribery on content; and the extent to which the economic situation in a country or territory affects the development and sustainability of the media.
More about this variableEconomic Influences over Media Content: Broadcast Media (1993-1995): The third sub-category examines the economic environment for the media. This includes the structure of media ownership; transparency and concentration of ownership; the costs of establishing media as well as of production and distribution; the selective withholding of advertising or subsidies by the state or other actors; the impact of corruption and bribery on content; and the extent to which the economic situation in a country impacts the development of the media. The scale of the variable is 0-20. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableEconomic Influences over Media Content: Broadcast Media (1996-2000): The third sub-category examines the economic environment for the media. This includes the structure of media ownership; transparency and concentration of ownership; the costs of establishing media as well as of production and distribution; the selective withholding of advertising or subsidies by the state or other actors; the impact of corruption and bribery on content; and the extent to which the economic situation in a country impacts the development of the media. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableEconomic Influences over Media Content: Print Media (1993-1995): The third sub-category examines the economic environment for the media. This includes the structure of media ownership; transparency and concentration of ownership; the costs of establishing media as well as of production and distribution; the selective withholding of advertising or subsidies by the state or other actors; the impact of corruption and bribery on content; and the extent to which the economic situation in a country impacts the development of the media. The scale of the variable is 0-20. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableEconomic Influences over Media Content: Print Media (1996-2000): The third sub-category examines the economic environment for the media. This includes the structure of media ownership; transparency and concentration of ownership; the costs of establishing media as well as of production and distribution; the selective withholding of advertising or subsidies by the state or other actors; the impact of corruption and bribery on content; and the extent to which the economic situation in a country impacts the development of the media. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableLaws and Regulations that Influence the Media Content (2001-2016). The variable encompasses an examination of both the laws and regulations that could influence media content and the government's inclination to use these laws and legal institutions to restrict the media's ability to operate. Freedom House assesses the positive impact of legal and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression; the potentially negative aspects of security legislation, the penal code, and other criminal statutes; penalties for libel and defamation; the existence of and ability to use freedom of information legislation; the independence of the judiciary and of official media regulatory bodies; registration requirements for both media outlets and journalists; and the ability of journalists' groups to operate freely. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableLaws and Regulations that Influence the Media Content: Broadcast Media (1993-1995). The variable encompasses an examination of both the laws and regulations that could influence media content and the government's inclination to use these laws and legal institutions to restrict the media's ability to operate. Freedom House assesses the positive impact of legal and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression; the potentially negative aspects of security legislation, the penal code, and other criminal statutes; penalties for libel and defamation; the existence of and ability to use freedom of information legislation; the independence of the judiciary and of official media regulatory bodies; registration requirements for both media outlets and journalists; and the ability of journalists' groups to operate freely. The scale of the variable is 0-20. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableLaws and Regulations that Influence the Media Content: Broadcast Media (1996-2000). The variable encompasses an examination of both the laws and regulations that could influence media content and the government's inclination to use these laws and legal institutions to restrict the media's ability to operate. Freedom House assesses the positive impact of legal and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression; the potentially negative aspects of security legislation, the penal code, and other criminal statutes; penalties for libel and defamation; the existence of and ability to use freedom of information legislation; the independence of the judiciary and of official media regulatory bodies; registration requirements for both media outlets and journalists; and the ability of journalists' groups to operate freely. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableLaws and Regulations that Influence the Media Content: Print Media (1993-1995). The variable encompasses an examination of both the laws and regulations that could influence media content and the government's inclination to use these laws and legal institutions to restrict the media's ability to operate. Freedom House assesses the positive impact of legal and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression; the potentially negative aspects of security legislation, the penal code, and other criminal statutes; penalties for libel and defamation; the existence of and ability to use freedom of information legislation; the independence of the judiciary and of official media regulatory bodies; registration requirements for both media outlets and journalists; and the ability of journalists' groups to operate freely. The scale of the variable is 0-20. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableLaws and Regulations that Influence the Media Content: Print Media (1996-2000). The variable encompasses an examination of both the laws and regulations that could influence media content and the government's inclination to use these laws and legal institutions to restrict the media's ability to operate. Freedom House assesses the positive impact of legal and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression; the potentially negative aspects of security legislation, the penal code, and other criminal statutes; penalties for libel and defamation; the existence of and ability to use freedom of information legislation; the independence of the judiciary and of official media regulatory bodies; registration requirements for both media outlets and journalists; and the ability of journalists' groups to operate freely. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variablePolitical Pressures and Controls on Media Content (2001-2016). The variable evaluates the degree of political control over the content of news media. Issues examined include the editorial independence of both state-owned and privately owned media; access to information and sources; official censorship and self-censorship; the vibrancy of the media; the ability of both foreign and local reporters to cover the news freely and without harassment; and the intimidation of journalists by the state or other actors, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, violent assaults, and other threats. The scale of the variable is 0-40. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variablePolitical Pressures and Controls on Media Content: Broadcast Media (1993-1995). The variable evaluates the degree of political control over the content of news media. Issues examined include the editorial independence of both state-owned and privately owned media; access to information and sources; official censorship and self-censorship; the vibrancy of the media; the ability of both foreign and local reporters to cover the news freely and without harassment; and the intimidation of journalists by the state or other actors, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, violent assaults, and other threats. The scale of the variable is 0-20. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variablePolitical Pressures and Controls on Media Content: Broadcast Media (1996-2000). The variable evaluates the degree of political control over the content of news media. Issues examined include the editorial independence of both state-owned and privately owned media; access to information and sources; official censorship and self-censorship; the vibrancy of the media; the ability of both foreign and local reporters to cover the news freely and without harassment; and the intimidation of journalists by the state or other actors, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, violent assaults, and other threats. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variablePolitical Pressures and Controls on Media Content: Print Media (1993-1995): The variable evaluates the degree of political control over the content of news media. Issues examined include the editorial independence of both state-owned and privately owned media; access to information and sources; official censorship and self-censorship; the vibrancy of the media; the ability of both foreign and local reporters to cover the news freely and without harassment; and the intimidation of journalists by the state or other actors, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, violent assaults, and other threats. The scale of the variable is 0-20. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variablePolitical Pressures and Controls on Media Content: Print Media (1996-2000): The variable evaluates the degree of political control over the content of news media. Issues examined include the editorial independence of both state-owned and privately owned media; access to information and sources; official censorship and self-censorship; the vibrancy of the media; the ability of both foreign and local reporters to cover the news freely and without harassment; and the intimidation of journalists by the state or other actors, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, violent assaults, and other threats. The scale of the variable is 0-30. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableRepressive Actions: Broadcast Media (1993-1995). This variable reflects actual press-freedom violations (killing of journalists, physical violence against journalists or facilities, censorship, self-censorship, harassment, expulsions, etc). The scale of the variable is 0-40. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableRepressive Actions: Broadcast Media (1996-2000). This variable reflects actual press-freedom violations (killing of journalists, physical violence against journalists or facilities, censorship, self-censorship, harassment, expulsions, etc). The scale of the variable is 0-10. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableRepressive Actions: Print Media (1993-1995). This variable reflects actual press-freedom violations (killing of journalists, physical violence against journalists or facilities, censorship, self-censorship, harassment, expulsions, etc). The scale of the variable is 0-40. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableRepressive Actions: Print Media (1996-2000). This variable reflects actual press-freedom violations (killing of journalists, physical violence against journalists or facilities, censorship, self-censorship, harassment, expulsions, etc). The scale of the variable is 0-10. 0 indicates more freedom.
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Score (1993-1995): The press freedom index is computed by adding four component ratings: Laws and regulations, Political pressures and controls, Economic Influences and Repressive actions. The scale ranges from 0 (most free) to 100 (least free).
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Score (1996-2000): The press freedom index is computed by adding four component ratings: Laws and regulations, Political pressures and controls, Economic Influences and Repressive actions. The scale ranges from 0 (most free) to 100 (least free).
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Score (2001-2016): The press freedom index is computed by adding four component ratings: Laws and regulations, Political pressures and controls, Economic Influences and Repressive actions. The scale ranges from 0 (most free) to 100 (least free).
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Status (1988-1992): 1. Free 2. Partly Free 3. Not Free
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Status (1993-1995): 1. Free 2. Partly Free 3. Not Free
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Status (1996-2000): 1. Free 2. Partly Free 3. Not Free
More about this variableFreedom of the Press, Status (1988-2016): 1. Free 2. Partly Free 3. Not Free
More about this variableFreedom of Print Media, Status (1979-1987): 1. Free 2. Partly Free 3. Not Free
More about this variableFreedom of Broadcast Media, Status (1979-1987): 1. Free 2. Partly Free 3. Not Free
More about this variable