Thursday, February 13, 2014

Worrying

Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index 2014 is out. The good news: we rank 9th, up there with the sorts of Scandawegian countries we like to compare ourselves to. The bad news? we've dropped a place. The reason?
In New Zealand, the interception of reporter Jon Stephenson’s metadata by the military, which thought his articles were overly critical, and the release of journalist Andrea Vance’s phone records to a leak investigation is indicative of growing government mistrust of the media and their watchdog role.

A free press is a vital safeguard in a democratic society. it speaks volumes about National's authoritarian mindset that it has eroded it.