Document details

Print and Broadcast Media Freedom: Disparities and Opening

Washington, DC: Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) (2009), 27 pp.
"Using historical data from Freedom House's Freedom of the Press index this report assesses regional trends regarding differing levels of print and broadcast media freedom. While an initial set of data covering 1980-88 shows a clear pattern of print media ranked as freer than broadcast media in every country studied, a later data set covering 1994-2001 shows that while print media outlets faced fewer direct government controls, they were targeted more often by governments in terms of legal harassment and physical attacks on journalists and their facilities [...] While the openings in the broadcast sector present new opportunities, several factors should be kept in mind in order to use these opportunities wisely and to their full potential. As seen in the historical data concerning print media, the existence and growth of private outlets in a media environment that is still circumscribed by government or political restrictions can lead to legal or extra-legal crackdowns against independent media and journalists. Therefore, the promotion of a more open and diverse broadcast sector through the reform of licensing and regulatory frameworks needs to be accompanied by broader legal reforms. Self-regulatory mechanisms and targeted training to improve professionalism in this sector also need to be promoted." (Summary, pages 4-5)