Freedom of the Press 2008 - San Marino

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 4 (of 30)
Political Environment: 6 (of 40)
Economic Environment: 7 (of 30)
Total Score: 17 (of 100)
(Lower scores = freer)

The 1974 San Marino Constitutional Order guarantees freedom of expression, and Article 183 of the criminal code protects against libel and slander. However, there are restrictions when freedom of expression comes into conflict with the right to confidentiality and to secrecy. No direct violations of freedom of the press by either state or nonstate actors were reported in 2007. During a public meeting held on World Press Freedom Day, members of the San Marino media requested increased professional training and a new law defining the rights and duties of journalists. Later in the year, Secretariats of State for Labor and Information established a preparatory training course in journalism and public communication. By law, radio and television broadcasting is monopolized by the San Marino Broadcasting Company, which grants concessions to private broadcasters. State-owned San Marino RTV runs both a radio and a television station. Three daily private papers are published in the republic, and a local weekly paper reports on economics, finance, and politics. Italian news is widely available in San Marino, including two private newspapers and several radio and television stations. The internet is available, unrestricted, and used by about 52 percent of the population.