Mass media in Iceland

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The mass media in Iceland are well-developed for a country of its size. The Constitution of Iceland guarantees absolute freedom of speech. Therefore, Iceland’s media are among the freest in the world.

Iceland has been in the top ten of the

Press Freedom Index, since it was first compiled in 2002 until 2014. It was first or joint first in 2002-2008 and 2010. Its 2015 ranking is twenty one, reflecting a sharp deterioration in freedom of information since 2013, according to Reporters Without Borders.[1][2][3]

Television

The RÚV headquarters in Reykjavík.
Main article: Television in Iceland

The principal

Sjónvarpið, which translates as ‘the television’. Broadcasts started in 1966, and coverage very quickly reached every household in Iceland. RÚV had a monopoly
on domestic broadcasting until 1986.

The main private television network is

Skjár einn, which mainly broadcasts American programming and original Icelandic programming and is completely funded by advertising sales.[4]

Radio

Before television broadcasting started in 1966, RÚV had already been broadcasting radio since 1930. Rás 1 is the principal radio station, along with its sister channel Rás 2. Bylgjan is a notable private broadcaster. During World War Two, the BBC World Service operated Icelandic programming from the 1 December 1940 until 26 June 1944. From 1951 until 2006 US Armed Forces Radio broadcast from Keflavik military base. Iceland Review https://www.icelandreview.com/news/american-forces-radio-signs-off/ reported "It started operations in 1951 and had broadcast continuously for 55 years." And went on to say that "According to RÚV, the US Armed Forces Radio, colloquially known as “Yankee Radio”, made more American music available to Icelandic audiences and “deeply influenced the music, fashion and attitudes of Icelandic youth.”

Press

Literature is a favourite pastime of the Icelanders, and so the printed press in the country is quite well developed.

Newspapers

readership is second largest after Fréttablaðið. These are the two main publications in terms of the quality press
.

The tabloids include DV, a small yet controversial paper, which is published four times a week.

Viðskiptablaðið, Icelandic Financial News (lit. ‘the commercial newspaper’), is the country's principal business-oriented newspaper.

Magazines

Iceland Review is an English language magazine about Iceland, published quarterly.

nightlife and Icelandic culture
in general.

Internet

The internet is unrestricted by the government, and is used by around 97% of the population.[5] Government has put in place rules that force telecommunication companies to block popular file sharing sites like The Pirate Bay and KickassTorrents.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Details About Iceland". 2015 World Press Freedom Index. Reporters Without Borders. 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  2. ^ "World Press Freedom Index 2015: decline on all fronts". 2015 World Press Freedom Index. Reporters Without Borders. 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016. Iceland (21st, down 13) paid the price of worsening relations between politicians and media. The drop was an alarm call for this "model of democracy".
  3. ^ "Freedom of information in decline for past two years in Iceland". Reporters Without Borders. Reporters Without Borders. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  4. ^ BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Country profiles | Country profile: Iceland
  5. World Factbook
  6. ^ [2], Pirate Bay lokað til að opna aftur annarsstaðar, Kjarninn

Lists

External links

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