The Freedom of the Press 2008 reports "worrisome trends evident in the former Soviet Union, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa."

Of the 195 countries and territories:

• 72 were rated Free;
• 59 Partly Free;
• and 64 were Not Free

Highlights of key trends:

• "Media played a key role in covering coups, states of emergency and contested elections in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Georgia ..."
• "Violence against journalists and, in many cases, corresponding impunity regarding past cases of abuse was a key factor in determining press freedom in countries as diverse as Mexico, Russia and the Philippines."
• "Satellite television and internet-based news and networking sources are an emerging force for openness in restricted media environments as well as a key target for government control."

In Ukraine, Freedom House reports:

... With hundreds of state and private television and radio stations and numerous print and electronic news outlets, Ukraine's media remained diverse. However, many major outlets are owned by regional business magnates with close ties to the government while others are dependent on state subsidies, making self-censorship widespread and slanting news coverage in favor of specific economic or political interests. Transparency of media ownership remains poor because businessmen and politicians often preferred to hide their ownership and editorial influence over news programs.

Additionally, Ukraine's print distribution system remains problematic and dependent on the national postal service. Some of these deficiencies were partly offset by strong economic growth, which increased media advertising revenues as well as the popularity of business reporting.

The government did not restrict internet access or require internet publications to register in 2007, but it had the ability to monitor websites and the e-mails of the 11.5 percent of the population that used the internet regularly. The country's growing economy continued to expand demand and readership of news and other websites. ...

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