Here’s some bad news you may or may not find in your regular news sources:
Only 56 percent of respondents in a worldwide survey believe freedom of the press (both print and broadcasting) is very important to ensure a free society.
Some 40 percent of the 11,344 persons interviewed in 14 countries believe it is more important to maintain social harmony and peace by curbing press freedoms.
Many of the naysayers (about 48 percent) reside in Russia (conditioned by decades of despotism), Singapore (a highly regimented state) and India (a Third World democracy rife with cultural and religious conflict).
Conducted by BBC World Service, the survey found highest support for press freedom (up to 70 percent) in North America, western Europe and—surprisingly—Venezuela, Kenya and South Africa.
There was bad news for Rupert Murdoch, the rightwing magnate hell bent on controlling media empires in America and elsewhere:
A high percentage of respondents said ownership was an issue because the owners’ political views emerged in the news. (16 DECEMBER 2007)
