언론의 자유 (2013년 2월 1일)

2월 첫 아침, 비가 내립니다. 겨우내 쌓인 먼지가 검은 물을 타고 흘러내립니다. 계절은 변해도 사람들이 변할 기미는 보이지 않습니다. 신문엔 온통 뻔뻔한 얼굴들이 가득합니다. 권력을 가진 사람들과 그들에게 잘 보이려 애쓰는 언론기관들로 인해 언론의 자유는 자꾸 뒷걸음을 칩니다. 지금 우리는 '언제'를 살고 있는 것일까요?

'국경 없는 기자회'가 지난 달 말 발표한 것을 보면 대만이 아시아 국가 중 제일 나은 '언론의 자유'를 누리고 있다고 합니다. 조사 대상 179개국 가운데 대만은 47위였고, 한국은 50위, 일본 53위, 홍콩 58위, 싱가포르는 149위였다고 합니다. 더욱 한심한 것은 이 모든 국가들의 순위가 그 전 해보다 떨어졌다는 것입니다. 일본은 31위나 떨어졌는데, 그 이유는 핵에너지 관련 기사를 검열했기 때문이라고 합니다. 북한은 178위이니 무슨 말을 하겠습니까? 아시아... 경제는 성장해도 민주주의가 자라기엔 너무나 척박한 지역일까요?  아래에 'Taiwan Today'에 실린 Rachel Chan 기자의 글을 옮겨둡니다.

Taiwan was ranked the top Asian nation in the latest World Press Freedom Index released Jan. 30 by France-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The island finished 47th among 179 countries, outperforming South Korea, 50; Japan, 53; Hong Kong, 58; and Singapore, 149, according to the survey.

Rankings of the four Asian dragons all fell from the previous year, with Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Japan down 2, 4, 6, 14 and 31 places, respectively.

Benjamin Ismail, head of RSF Asia-Pacific, told a Taiwan news media outlet that the country’s ranking was affected by issues stemming from a local media merger.

Taipei City-headquartered Want Want China Times Group’s purchase of the Taiwan operations of Hong Kong-based Next Media Ltd. has given rise to concerns among certain groups about the establishment of a media monopoly.

ROC Presidential Office spokesman Fan-chiang Tai-chi said Jan. 11 that President Ma Ying-jeou remains committed to upholding press freedom and not interfering in Taiwan media mergers and acquisitions handled by the National Communications Commission and Fair Trade Commission.

“The NCC, which is an independent body, has full government support to propose a comprehensive, detailed and professional anti-monopoly bill after taking into consideration opinions from all sections of society,” Ma said. “Only by doing so can we construct a healthier media environment in Taiwan.”

According to the RSF index, Japan’s sharp fall is due to censorship of nuclear industry coverage during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis. The event was triggered after a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan March 11, 2011.

The survey also found Finland, Netherlands and Norway were the top three nations, while bringing up the rear were Laos, 168; Vietnam, 172; mainland China, 173; and North Korea, 178.

Launched in 2004, the annual press freedom index is based on a questionnaire sent to RSF partner organizations, its 150 correspondents worldwide, as well as journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists.

The report measures the level of freedom of information by six criteria: environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, media independence, pluralism, and transparency and infrastructure. (JSM)