5 - Reporter’s Privilege

 

The Best and Worst Places in the World to be a Reporter (and the reasons why)

In today's brief on Reporter's Privilege I want to share the best and worst countries to be a reporter and what laws or lack of laws that contribute to the conditions of being a reporter there. 

I learned of the major challenges that the Media faces in many countries in the News and Reporting course, so I would like to focus on the countries that are the most difficult to work in, then follow up with the best countries. I think this is an interesting exploration of Reporter's Privilege and what doesn't when it comes to Media Law and Ethics. 

The 3 WORST Countries for Reporters:

North Korea- The Media in North Korea are required to follow strict legal constraints because their government controls everything! There are no independent media outlets, therefore everything that gets reported is provided by the government restricting reporters from reporting on outside information. I think this lack of Press Freedom makes North Korea one of the worst countries to be a reporter in. Freedom of Expression is very limited and any criticism of the government is punishable by law. 

The press and broadcasters - all of them under direct state control - carry flattering reports about North Korea's leader. Economic hardships or natural disasters are not always reported. If they are, they are framed as a patriotic battle. bbc.com

Turkmenistan- Similarly to North Korea, Turkmenistan has very limited options of independent media outlets and are controlled heavily by the government. Journalist in this country are not protected from harassment, intimidation, and fear being arrested for reporting on information not approved by the government.  

Achilova, 67, is a journalist with Radio Azatlyk, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Turkmen service, the only independent media source on Turkmenistan that offers regular Turkmen-language news reporting. Her reporting covers a range of social issues, such as drinking water shortages, problems in the national healthcare system, and the like. In recent years, Achilova has repeatedly been intimidated and harassed for her work, as have her fellow Radio Azatlyk colleagues hrw.org

Eritrea- This country is known to be highly censored countries in the world and also have severe restrictions on freedom of speech. Eritrea lacks protections for their reporters and many here journalists work under constant threat of government retaliation. There is concern for the many journalists who get locked up in Eritrea, especially with their prison's conditions being so overcrowded and poor quality. 

Amnesty International has documented extremely poor prison conditions in Eritrea, in some cases amounting to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Prisons in Eritrea are generally overcrowded, with inadequate water and sanitation facilities and providing poor-quality food and drinking water. amnesty.org

The 3 BEST Countries for Reporters:

Norway- This country has a long history of protecting and supporting freedom of press. The Norwegian Penal Code protects journalists and also has laws to promote the access of information and transparency. 

Norway’s legal framework safeguarding freedom of the press is robust. The media market is vibrant, featuring a strong public service broadcaster and a diversified private sector with publishing companies guaranteeing extensive editorial independence. rsf.org

Costa Rica- This county has a strong tradition of democracy and has laws that prohibits censorship. 

The media landscape is diverse and includes privately owned commercial media, state-owned media, cultural and religious TV channels and university media. Several media outlets provide both national and regional coverage. Journalists can exercise their profession without obstruction and enjoy a solid legal framework guaranteeing freedom of expression. rsf.org

Canada- The Canadian Charter of the Press guarantees freedom of expression. The country has laws in place to protect journalists and their sources. 

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”) establishes fundamental rights and freedoms for every Canadian. Section 1 of the Charter only guarantees those rights and freedoms to such reasonable limits as may be justified in a free and democratic society. cpj.org

 As you might have noticed, America hasn’t made this list, from my research I found both positive and negative comments and information about the US reporter privilege laws, including those known as “shield laws”. I’m considering doing a deeper dive into what it’s like being a journalist here in America and differences you may find legally from state to state.