Media Freedom in the Commonwealth
One of the most important human rights, which is so often insufficiently appreciated, is the right to freedom of expression and accurate information. Yet across the world, journalists, bloggers and others are facing official and de facto restrictions on freedom of expression and communication. Drawing on the strength and expertise of a substantial group of Research Fellows, in 2017 the Institute of Commonwealth Studies established a project to examine the challenges to freedom of expression across the Commonwealth (a global subsystem of 54 member states), looking at local as well as international factors affecting journalistic freedom.
The project started with a conference on The Commonwealth and Challenges to Media Freedom held in April 2017.
Key Information
Press Freedom Indexes
Please find here the Press Freedom Index for Commonwealth countries (2013-2018), compiled by Reporters Without Borders(Opens in new window). We have also compiled the Press Freedom Global Index 2019-2022.
Media Freedom Summary Report
Here you will also find a Media Freedom Summary Report which was commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation(Opens in new window).
Media Freedom Principles
The project has convened a Working Group on Media and Good Governance which includes representatives from a number of Commonwealth partner organisations, including the Commonwealth Journalists Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. In March 2018, the Working Group agreed the Commonwealth principles on freedom of expression and the role of the media in good governance, proposing them for consideration by the Commonwealth Heads of Government at the April 2018 Commonwealth Summit.
Key Staff Members - Media Freedom Initiative
Dr Kiran Hassan
Associate Fellow and Co-Ordinator of the Media Freedom Initiative
Research keywords: media in Pakistan; religious minorities in Pakistan
Mr Martin Plaut
Senior Research Fellow
Research keywords: Southern Africa, migration, defence
Recent publication: Understanding Eritrea: Inside Africa’s Most Repressiive
Professor Daya Thussu
Senior Research Fellow
Research keywords: Global communication; Media.
Recent publication as editor: BRICS Media: Reshaping the Global Communication Order?
Dr David Page
Senior Research Fellow
Research keywords: Media policy and law in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Dr William Crawley
Research keywords: Media policy and law in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
