(2) World Press Freedom Index 2014. Reporters Without Borders, Feb 12, 2015.
rsf.org/index2014/en-index2014.php#
Quote:
"Finland tops the index for the fourth year running, closely followed by Netherlands and Norway, like last year. At the other end of the index, the last three positions are again held by Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, three countries where freedom of information is non-existent.
"Countries that pride themselves on being democracies and respecting the rule of law have not set an example, far from it. Freedom of information is too often sacrificed to an overly broad and abusive interpretation of national security needs * * * This has been the case in the United States (46th), which fell 13 places, one of the most significant declines, amid increased efforts to track down whistleblowers and the sources of leaks.
"[section heading] PRIVATIZATION OF VIOLENCE: Non-state groups constitute the main source of physical danger for journalists in a number of countries [including] China * * *
"Russia (148th) might have been lower in the index had it not been for the stubbornness and resistance shown by its civil society. But the authorities keep on intensifying the crackdown begun when Vladimir Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012
"Chine [sic; the French spelling where "ch" is pronounced the same as that of "she" in English] (175th, -1) failed to improve its ranking because, despite having an astonishing vital and increasingly militant blogosphere, it continues to censor and jail dissident bloggers and journalists. This new power is also using its economic might to extend its influence over the media in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, compromising their independence.
My comment: These are the only two instances in the press release that discusses China.