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Freedom of the Press - Barbados (2005)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 3
Political Influences: 6
Economic Pressures: 8
Total Score: 17

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 72
Religious Groups: Protestant (67 percent), Roman Catholic (4 percent), other (29 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Black (90 percent), white (4 percent), other (6 percent)
Capital: Bridgetown

Freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed and largely unrestricted. Media in Barbados operate in a very open environment and are free of censorship and government control. Journalists have, however, complained about the island's severe libel laws. All the media, state controlled and privately owned, are independent, express diverse political and social views, and regularly criticize state policies. Two daily newspapers, two weeklies, and a bimonthly newspaper are all privately owned. Radio stations in Barbados include the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which operates three stations, as well as six private stations. The CBC also operates CBC-TV, the island's sole television station. There have been some complaints that the government uses its influence to limit reporting on certain sensitive issues. In October, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers criticized the CBC for refusing to air an edition of The Press Club, a weekly current affairs program. The edition reportedly highlighted aggressive police conduct in restricting media access during the high-profile Barbados wedding of American golfer Tiger Woods.

Topics: Freedom of expression,