Madagasacar Ranks Low in World Press Survey

Press freedom shrank more in Madagascar last year than in many other countries, according to an international media survey.

The country is ranked 109th by the Western watchdog Reporters Without Borders among 167 countries in giving the freedom to journalists and media houses. Last year, it was rated 82nd.


The Paris-based body gives no explanation for the drop in Madagascar's standing, saying only that "unjust laws and repressive governments held back some countries where there is genuine news diversity."

It places Madagascar in a group that includes Kenya, Guinea, Chad, Mauritania and Ethiopia.

A few African countries are among the top performers. Benin, in 25th place, is top-ranked in black Africa, followed by South Africa (32nd), Mauritius (35th), Mali (37th) and Mozambique (49th). Tanzania ranks 75th and Uganda 80th.

The 10 countries said to have the greatest press freedom improvement are all European, led by Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Reporters Without Frontiers says the US has the freest Press in the world with index 44, but has fallen 20 places from last year due mainly to the jailing of a New York Times reporter who refused to identify a confidential source.

Ranked below Madagascar are countries such as Russia, Mexico, China and Singapore.

Iraq is also placed near the bottom of the table. At least 21 journalists and media assistants have been killed in that country this year, making it "the most deadly conflict for the media since World War II," the study says.

It views the Press as most constrained in North Korea, with Eritrea ranked only a notch higher.

Reporters Without Borders says it relies on freedom-of-expression groups around the world as well as its own network of 130


Kevin J. Kelley
Washington, DC

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