Journalists are entrusted with a very important job – they share what is occurring in the world no matter how bad the news. When we think of countries where freedom of the press is practiced right, we tend to think of the United States as the best example. However, while we are extremely fortunate to be able to practice such an important liberty, we actually do not have the only form of free press.
Curious about what freedom of the press looks like in other parts of the word? Here are five countries whose freedom of the press is just a tad different – but equally important.
When you hear someone talking about Finland, you might initially think of its good school systems or its love of saunas. However, Finland actually ranks number one in the World Press Freedom Index, according to Reporters Without Borders. While newspapers may be getting kicked to the curb (or, to be more accurate, off the curb) by online magazines in the U.S., newspapers are alive and well in Finland. In fact, boasts 200 newspapers, including 31 daily ones.
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So what’s so amazing about the right of free press in Finland? First of all, Finland has a strong journalist’s union that consists of over 14,000 members (which isn’t too shabby considering Finland is only home to 5.5 million people). Finland’s government also focuses on providing transparent and easily accessible information. Not only was Finland the first country to make high-speed Internet access a legal right, but it’s also experimenting with crowd-sourced legislation, according to Motherboard. Finland even makes foreign journalists’ lives easier by providing a website with a variety of information – ranging from maps to free internet hotspots to useful contacts in the legislature – to aid traveling journalists.
Netherlands has also earned the number one spot for freedom of the press rights, this time by the Freedom of the Press Report. Journalists enjoy strong legal protections and all Dutch citizens can access a variety of content in all media forms. In 2013, Dutch newspapers also started a website called Publeaks for whistleblowers to securely and anonymously leak information to the press.
In the Netherlands, freedom of expression goes beyond the medium of print to include Internet-published expressions. Netherlands is also one of the founding members of the Freedom Online Coalition, which promotes access to information online and the freedom of expression through online platforms.
When it comes to freedom of the press, Iceland has a bit of a hot and cold relationship. In the mid 2000s, a group of journalists joined to form an Icelandic Modern Media Initiative. This initiative strives to make Iceland somewhat like an offshore tax haven – only for protecting investigative journalists from litigation. Many supported the initiative – Iceland citizens often support any measures that increase transparency – and it was unanimously ratified in June of 2010.
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Yet, Iceland has struggled with his freedom of the press ratings since this unprecedented initiative was approved. Reporters Without Borders has pointed out that almost all of Iceland’s leading media editors were forced to stand down this last year. While the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative has promise transparency, whether it will improve the status of freedom of the press in Iceland is still undetermined.
Estonia has made great strides in privatizing the media and, as of 2015, moved up one place in the Reporters Without Borders world press freedom index. Compared to other countries, however, Estonia has some differences in its freedom of the press laws.
For instance, libel is not considered illegal although newspapers or journalists can go to a civil court on charges of defamation. Thanks to exceptions within a 2010 whistleblower law, journalists are also required to give up their sources in cases involving extreme crimes. In these cases, if a journalist refuses to reveal their sources, he or she can be imprisoned for up to one year. So far, this law hasn’t be used but journalists are still worried about its possible implications.
Maple syrup isn’t the only thing that’s sweet in Canada; the freedom of the press laws aren’t bad either. Unlike other countries, though, Canada has a law forbidding people from lying or presenting misleading news on broadcast media. Attempts have been made to revoke this bill, but have been unsuccessful so far.
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As of 2016, Canada has also fallen ten spots on the World Freedom Press Index. Many blame the former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, with Duncan Pike from the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression referring to Harper’s time in office as a “dark age” for journalists. Under Harper, journalists experienced less access to information, greater censorship of government scientists and civil servants and increased surveillance of the journalists themselves. With a new Prime Minister taking the reigns, however, Canadian journalists hope that renewed promises of openness and transparency will be met.
Whether you work as a journalist in in the U.S., the Netherlands or Estonia, freedom of the press is an important right that needs to be defended. The next time you start wondering if you should post that tweet on social media, just be grateful you (legally) can!
