An annual survey of media freedom has reported a mixed picture in East Asia - with some losses and some gains.
The US-based Freedom House organisation says China tightened some restrictions in 2007, but also tolerated more investigative journalism into cases of official corruption.
The report noted gains last year in Thailand and Malaysia, but said Vietnam and Laos continue to fare poorly.
It ranked North Korea as the world's most restricted media environment.
Here's Freedom House's Freedom of the Press 2008 Survey Release.
You can find Freedom House's findings on Canada on page 40 of the Draft Country Reports.
Canada scored 18, the U.S. 17. Finland and Iceland, the media freedom havens, scored nine each.
In comparison, Turkmenistan scored 96, Uzbekistan 92. But if you crave media freedom, North Korea is not the place for you. It scored 98, the worst ranking of any country in the world.