New Zealand has been ranked ninth in the world in Reporters sans frontieres' annual worldwide press freedom index. We were the highest ranking country outside of Europe, and scored better than the United States (22nd equal), Britain (28th equal), or Australia (41st). The index measures the practical freedom of journalists and the media to do their job - whether they are assaulted, imprisoned, murdered, censored, or simply harassed, the legal framework surrounding the media, and whether those violating press freedom are punished or enjoy impunity. As a stable, liberal, and above all peaceful democracy, we rate fairly well on all of these things. The US fell down for arresting journalists and denying visas; Australia for similar actions and for its efforts to prevent coverage of its treatment of refugees.
I guess it's another sign that GDP per capita isn't everything...
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