VOA标准英语2012--Citizens' Access to Information Limited in Many Countries

Citizens' Access to Information Limited in Many Countries

Everyone wants access to unlimited¹ and unobstructed information but not everyone gets it. 

“Seeking and receiving information is a fundamental human right," stresses Joel Simon, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. His organization recently published a report on the world’s 10 most-censored³ nations. The East African country of Eritrea is at the top of the list.

“Eritrea is just completely closed," he explained. "No journalists are getting in. There are no international bureaus. It’s completely censored. ”

But Dawit Haile from the Eritrean embassy in Washington says the report is groundless. 

"There are various and many types of satellite dishes that are available throughout the city," Haile noted⁴, "but also the countryside - also the city is filled with internet cafes, and people read all kinds of information.”

Eritrea is not alone. This year's CPJ list includes countries like North Korea, Syria, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, Uzbekistan, Burma, Cuba, Belarus, and a new entry from the Middle East. 

“Saudi Arabia has long been a closed society," explained Simon of the CPJ. "A wide range of political criticism that might be defined as blasphemy⁵, as criticism of religious institutions, is heavily suppressed.” 

No immediate⁶ response to the report was available from the Saudi embassy in Washington.

Although professional journalists continue to play a critical role, more of the information flow is being provided by citizen journalists, through blogs and social media platforms. Mark Jurkowitz is with the Pew Research Center’s Excellence⁷ in Journalism⁸ project - a non-partisan and non-profit organization. 

“We have seen journalism, or at least the disseminating⁹ of news and information, move from just those who had the ability to own a printing press or a TV station to frankly¹⁰ almost anyone, any citizen. That’s a tremendously important development,” noted Jurkowitz. 

In the age of information overload¹¹, it can sometimes be hard to know what's true. And governments are still able to censor² information - protecting their own interests, often at the expense of people's right to know. But despite the never-ending challenges of news gathering¹², most journalists go out every day with a simple goal of giving the viewer, listener or reader the truth. Most journalists take that role seriously, some even paying the ultimate price. So far this year, 17 journalists have died. 

1 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

2 censor   

n./vt.审查，审查员；删改

参考例句：

• The film has not been viewed by the censor.这部影片还未经审查人员审查。
• The play was banned by the censor.该剧本被查禁了。

3 censored   

受审查的，被删剪的

参考例句：

• The news reports had been heavily censored . 这些新闻报道已被大幅删剪。
• The military-backed government has heavily censored the news. 有军方撑腰的政府对新闻进行了严格审查。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 blasphemy   

n.亵渎，渎神

参考例句：

• His writings were branded as obscene and a blasphemy against God.他的著作被定为淫秽作品，是对上帝的亵渎。
• You have just heard his blasphemy!你刚刚听到他那番亵渎上帝的话了！

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

7 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

8 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

9 disseminating   

散布，传播( disseminate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Our comrades in propaganda work have the task of disseminating Marxism. 我们作宣传工作的同志有一个宣传马克思主义的任务。
• Disseminating indecent photographs on the internet a distasteful act. 在因特网上发布不雅照片是卑劣的行径。

10 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

11 overload   

vt.使超载；n.超载

参考例句：

• Don't overload the boat or it will sink.别超载，否则船会沉。
• Large meals overload the digestive system.吃得太饱会加重消化系统的负担。

12 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。