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Freedom of the Press 2016: New Zealand
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Freedom of the Press 2015: New Zealand
Ranked 26th in annual global media freedom report
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World Press Freedom Index 2014: New Zealand
Ranked 9th in annual press freedom index
"Cook Islands News" editor Cameron Scott said the newspaper had quoted in full a written statement by George in response to its original report. But the newspaper had not apologised because it was unable to get a copy of the official transcript of parliamentary proceedings to check what this said.
Brown had reported that George, who is also the minister for health, had said he was "not interested" in autopsies for suspicious or unexplained deaths. This report came amidst controversy reported by the "Cook Islands News" over recent deaths and questions over the treatment provided by doctors. George, a former police officer, said that while there would be no tolerance of medical mistakes, Polynesian people do not like "loved ones being cut up" in autopsies before burial.
"Cook Islands News" said in an editorial comment that in August 1999 George had told a "Cook Islands News" reporter, "We're going to bring 'Cook Islands News' down, it's too vicious and vindictive - it publishes a whole lot of lies.... we're going to do something about it." The newspaper said: "Press licensing would rank the Cook Islands alongside Iraq, Iran and a host of shoddy African dictatorships. Wonderful company. We would remind Mr George and others in government that the media's job is not to become an extension of the official information service. Government will always want its policies presented in the 'best light', but that is their definition, not anyone else's."
Cook Islands is self-governing in free association with New Zealand, and Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens. The "Cook Islands News" is the country's only daily newspaper. It was once government run but was privatised by a previous government. There are also local radio and TV stations and non-daily newspapers published in both Cook Islands and flown in from New Zealand.
In 1995, controversy arose when the then Cook Islands government proposed a "Media Standards Bill". George, who was then in the parliamentary opposition, opposed the bill and spoke of "oppressive laws" being introduced. The government did not go ahead with the proposed legislation after public outcry, including a public petition against the planned legislation.
Ranked 26th in annual global media freedom report
Ranked 9th in annual press freedom index
members working in this region
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SOUTH ASIA PRESS FREEDOM REPORT 2018-2019
Journalism in South Asia is far from an easy profession, as the 12th annual review of journalism in the region "The Campaign for Justice: Press Freedom in South Asia 2013-14" portrays. But this year's report also tells the story of the courage of South Asia's journalists to defend press freedom and to ensure citizens' right to information and freedom of expression in the face of increasing challenges to the profession and personal safety.
The report is the first created by the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) looking specifically at the experience of women journalists in the South Asia sub-region