15 March 2012 Last updated at 11:40 ET

Iceland profile

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media
• Timeline

Iceland tops a world press freedom index

National radio and TV is provided by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), a public-service broadcaster owned by the state.

The RUV is obliged to promote the Icelandic language and the nation's history and cultural heritage. Its services are funded by a licence fee, and by advertising revenues.

Press titles include privately-owned and party-affiliated newspapers.

The constitution guarantees press freedom. Iceland came joint first in the Reporters Without Borders 2010 world press freedom index.

In 2010, Iceland passed legislation which it said would give greater protection to journalists and their sources than any other such law in the world. The WikiLeaks website helped to draft the law.

By mid-2010, 301,600 Icelanders were online - a 97% penetration rate (Internetworldstats).

The press

• Frettabladid - daily
• Morgunbladid - morning daily
• DV - evening daily
• Vidskiptabladid - business
• Baejarins besta - West Fjords local news
• icelandreview.com - English-language site with news

Television

• Icelandic National Broadcasting Service - operates public network Sjonvarpid
• Stod 2 - main private station
• Syn - private
• Skjar einn - private

Radio

• Icelandic National Broadcasting Service - public radio, operates two national networks and four regional stations
• Bylgjan - main private station