"Report says the freedom of the press has declined" by Barry Schweid, Associated Press | May 1, 2009
WASHINGTON - Press freedom declined worldwide in 2008 as even once-unfettered nations such as Israel and Italy imposed new limits on media coverage, according to a report by media analysts.
I guess not being allowed into Gaza for three years finally got to some of them, huh?
"Declines in Israel, Italy, and Taiwan illustrate that established democracies with traditional open media are not immune to restricting freedom," said Arch Puddington, research director for Freedom House, a nonprofit that plans to release the report today in advance of World Press Freedom Day on Sunday.
They are also not immune to lying to push an agenda.
In 2007, the Middle East was the only region that had showed improvement, Puddington said in an interview. Now it shows decline, he said. Overall, the Middle East and North Africa have had the world's lowest level of press freedom.
So says the westerner.
Please see: The Bias of Al-Jazeera
Freedom House attributed the new press limits in Israel mostly to travel restrictions and military censorship imposed on the press during Israel's conflict with Palestinians in Gaza.
When the MSM wasn't censoring itself that is.
Most media outlets were dependent on government spokespeople for their information, Puddington said.
There is NOTHING NEW about ANY OF THAT!!!!!
He is STATING the OBVIOUS!
At the same time, press freedom declined in the Israeli- occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza as Hamas and Fatah intimidated journalists, the report said.
The ZIONIST AMERIKAN MEDIA never tires of the s*** spin, does it?
The more outrageous the lie....
Despite hopes that the Internet and new media might provide openings, the countries with the most handcuffed press were Burma, Cuba, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea, and Turkmenistan - all longtime offenders....
