International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc.

[IAIJ]

10 Best/Worst Countries To Be A Journalist!



At the International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc. (IAIJ) we have decided on an annual review of world press freedom on World Press Freedom Day - May 3, 2012. We will publish our 10 best and 10 worst places to be a journalist. Our little list will be a bit different as we will meld the worst and best for both career journalists and citizen journalists/bloggers. In doing so we will mirror our own membership and more accurately show the best and worst places for people who would become members with us.

This year is our second and the results focus on many issues and indices most notable being from Reporters Without Boarders and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). But we have looked at many others and also used our own experiences which is why Iraq makes it in to the ten worst because as America leaves the conditions just get worse. Also note that Japan made it into the ten best last year and replaces Australia this year because the best way to test a country's atmosphere for a journalist is when it is in turmoil. Most of the top ten are not but Japan has and continues to have its problems and yet things are still very much alright for journalists. Note that the majority of the ten worst are in turmoil and journalist rights are the first to go. Next year may see more changes in the top ten as smaller countries have an easier time dealing with journalist issues as opposed to larger countries that have more events that test journalist conditions and get more negative attention. We shall see if there is a suitable way to balance the judgements of small and large countries with regard to journalist rights and freedoms. So we now present to you our yearly list of the ten best and ten worst places to be a journalist.




10 Worst places to be a journalist:


1. Eritrea

2. Syria

3. Iran

4. Turkmenistan

5. Burma

6. North Korea

7. Sudan

8. Rwanda

9. Iraq

10. Afghanistan





10 Best places to be a journalist:


1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Norway

4. Netherlands

5. Sweden

6. Switzerland

7. Japan

8. Australia

9. New Zealand

10.Austria







So our second year of top ten lists are what they are. Once again you should note that large countries which traditionally have bumped up around the worst have been savvy enough to keep themselves out of the light of the top ten lists even though it is still business as usual. That is more reflective of the shrinking global nature of media where many repressive countries do look at how they are now portrayed on the international stage rather than simple isolation and indifference. At any rate that is how they faired with us and other organizations may still rank them among the worst.


http://iaij.org


IAIJ: JOURNALISTS IN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD!