Freedom of the Press
Freedom House
To provide an annual evaluation of the state of global press freedom.
US charitable foundations and government agencies.
The index is used by governments, academics and news media in many countries.
Foreign and domestic news reports, publications, think tank and academic analyses, individual professional contacts, and visits to the region in preparing reports.
Country Coverage: 197 countries
Year Coverage: 1980 - present (updated annually)
Washington, D.C. Office
1319 18th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: +1 202-296-5101
The examination of the level of press freedom in each country currently comprises 23 methodology questions and 109 indicators divided into three broad categories: the legal environment, the political environment, and the economic environment. For each methodology question, a lower number of points is allotted for a more free situation, while a higher number of points is allotted for a less free environment. Each country is rated in these three categories, with the higher numbers indicating less freedom. A country’s final score is based on the total of the three categories: A score of 0 to 30 places the country in the Free press group; 31 to 60 in the Partly Free press group; and 61 to 100 in the Not Free press group.
0-30 “Free”, 31-60 “Partly Free”, 61-100 “Not Free”
The index simplifies a complex subject into an easily understood rating.
The methodology’s reliance on external assessments means it should not be used as a reflection of the views of citizens within the country. The scoring system precludes the indices’ use as an index of the de facto or de jure enjoyment of rights.
State-owned media is less free. Similar value bias exists throughout the questionnaire.
The table below shows the 2012 press Freedom rankings
