Monday, September 29 2014

Armenia is ranked 4th in the Eastern Partnership Media Freedom Index for the first half of 2014.  

According to the data published on EaP Media Freedom Watch, Georgia remains the leader of the Eastern Partnership Media Freedom Index for the first half of 2014, while Moldova came in second. Ukraine has switched places with Armenia, and now holds the third position. Azerbaijan and Belarus follow towards the end of the ranking. 

The Eastern Partnership Media Freedom Index is compiled quarterly within the framework of the project EaP Media Freedom Watch, carried out by the international public organization Internews-Ukraine, in partnership with non-governmental organizations of the five Eastern Partnership countries. The Media Freedom Index is calculated by summing up the points obtained by participant countries in four sections - Politics, Practice, Broadcasting and Internet and new media. About 60 media experts were interviewed in order to compile the data.

The Politics section determines the level of rights and freedoms granted by the Constitution and laws of the country to the media and journalists, their compliance with international norms and standards, presence of censorship by official bodies, etc. The maximum score is 240 points. Armenia obtained 170 points, Georgia - 207, Moldova - 179, Ukraine - 157, Azerbaijan - 124, and Belarus - 70.

The Practice section defines the role of the state in ensuring rights and freedoms of media and journalists, the reaction of authorities to cases of unlawful restrictions. This unit consists of six parts: actual attacks, threats, detention, prosecutions; access to information; censorship and self-censorship; state monopoly; economic conditions. The maximum score is 1110 points. Armenia obtained 603 points, Georgia - 947, Moldova - 857, Ukraine - 697, Belarus - 356, Azerbaijan - 344.
The Broadcasting section specifies the level of freedom of broadcasting companies, access to the air time and other similar criteria. The maximum score is 150 points. Armenia obtained 65 points, Georgia - 119, Moldova - 104, Ukraine - 91, Azerbaijan - 41, and Belarus - 26.
The Internet and new media section determines the level of freedom of the internet and access to it. The maximum score is 150 points.  Armenia obtained 117 points, Moldova - 144, Georgia - 136, Ukraine - 126, Azerbaijan - 51, Belarus - 50.