MALE: Maldives has gained 53 places and jumped to 51st in the Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2009 compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RWB) annually. RWB acknowledged the successful democratic transition in the Maldives as the catalyst for the biggest advance in the world this year. Reporters Without Borders compiles the World Press Freedom Ranking every year on the basis of questionnaires that are completed by hundreds of journalists and media experts around the world. This 2009 index reflects press freedom violations that took place between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009. Top spot in this year’s ranking went jointly to Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.
