U.S. Ranks 44th in Worldwide Press Freedom Index

[ckramer]

The annual worldwide press freedom index from Reporters Without Borders shows the United States, which is supposedly spreading freedom and liberty throughout the world, is in a fast decline regarding the freedom of its own press.

The report ranked the United States in 44th place, an atomic drop from a favorable position of 22nd held last year, and from a handsome 17th place in 2002.

The organization mentioned that several journalists were expelled from the country since the terrorist attacks of 2001.

South Korea, positioned at 34th place, is improving its image, partly because of open-source media OhmyNews. Any citizen in South Korea can be a reporter, thanks to its policy of posting submissions from people with all backgrounds.

link

[cassiepriam]

1. That high huh??

[IChing]

2. We beat Boliva by one point..yeah..........here is the list..

From the original source of rankings

N° Country Note
1 Denmark 0,50
- Finland 0,50
- Iceland 0,50
- Ireland 0,50
- Netherlands 0,50
- Norway 0,50
- Switzerland 0,50
8 Slovakia 0,75
9 Czech Republic 1,00
- Slovenia 1,00
11 Estonia 1,50
12 Hungary 2,00
- New Zealand 2,00
- Sweden 2,00
- Trinidad and Tobago 2,00
16 Austria 2,50
- Latvia 2,50
18 Belgium 4,00
- Germany 4,00
- Greece 4,00
21 Canada 4,50
- Lithuania 4,50
23 Portugal 4,83
24 United Kingdom 5,17
25 Benin 5,50
- Cyprus 5,50
- Namibia 5,50
28 El Salvador 5,75
29 Cape Verde 6,00
30 France 6,25
31 Australia 6,50
- South Africa 6,50
33 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7,00
34 Jamaica 7,50
- Mauritius 7,50
- South Korea 7,50
37 Japan 8,00
- Mali 8,00
39 Hong-Kong 8,25
40 Spain 8,33
41 Costa Rica 8,50
42 Italy 8,67
43 Macedonia 8,75
44 United States of America (American territory) 9,50
45 Bolivia 9,67
46 Uruguay 9,75
47 Israel 10,00
48 Bulgaria 10,25
49 Mozambique 10,50
50 Chile 11,75
51 Dominican Republic 12,25
- Taiwan 12,25
53 Cyprus (North) 12,50

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15331

[ixion]

4. there is simply no excuse for the US not being in the top 10

and the fact that people are not outraged about this is disturbing.

[KansDem]

15. There's those damned Scandinavian countries again!

I mean, what's with them?--I thought government-funded social programs and a free press don't go together?!?!?


:sarcasm:

Have I been "Americanized?" too much, yet?:crazy:

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

18. This measurement is crap

The US should be low on the list, but not for the reasons they give:

The United States (44th) fell more than 20 places, mainly because of the imprisonment of New York Times reporter Judith Miller and legal moves undermining the privacy of journalistic sources.

Freedom of the press should not allow reporters to participate in criminal acts and protect their co-conspirators.

[underpants]

21. Take THAT Bolivia!!!

HA! In your FACE!!

U-S-A!! U-S-A!!!

[BlueEyedSon]

3. Between Macedonia and Bolivia!

[Demeter]

5. If The Reporters Shot Dead In Iraq Were Added To The Pot

I doubt we'd even be in the top 100, even if distinctions were made between those we shot, and those killed by other parties.

[cannabis_flower]

6. Actually....

There is a listing for..

137 United States of America (in Iraq) 48,50

[Demeter]

8. I Am Ashamed that Americans are So Gutless and Simple

not a failing missing in the list of character defects.

[Inland]

7. USA! USA! Suck on it, Bulgaria! nt

[NVMojo]

9. embarassing!

[UpInArms]

10. now that is truly depressing

:(

:blush: (for my one-dignified country)

[enigma000]

11. It's in free fall

I wonder how low it can go? No wonder the blogs are so popular, its the only way we can get real news and not just updates on missing blond women and celebrity marriages.

[sakabatou]

12. Everything Bush touches turn to crap

[meganmonkey]

13. And they hate us for our freedoms

:puke:

[Endangered Specie]

14. Wow ITALY beat us!

:wtf:

so did South Africa!

[KansDem]

16. I didn't see Iraq on the list...

Weren't we spreading freedom and democracy there? I just thought that with all that freedom and democracy spreading would be reflected in its press freedom. Not yet, huh?...

on edit: Sorry, there it is, No. 157--right before Vietnam and China. Golly oskie! I wonder where it would have been before we started spreading freedom and democracy!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. And this is what happens when a country swings to the Right:

Enjoy your coziness with the Bushista regime...

The highest-ranked countries may all be European but the press freedom gap is widening between member-states of the European Union. Poland (53rd), for example, slipped nearly 20 places this year, mainly because a journalist was heavily fined for “offensive remarks” about the Pope, a taboo subject. An investigative journalist on the satirical weekly Nie also faces between three months and five years in prison for refusing to reveal his sources. His computer hard-drive was put under legal seal at his home on 23 June, depriving him of his work equipment for several months.

[triguy46]

19. Perhaps if the press weren't so overwhelmingly lapdogs for *...

it seems our media, (which is the press whether we like to believe it or not), seems more taken with being in the vicinity of the powerful than doing their job. I suggest that the press (media) have too much at stake (their six figure incomes) to be objective, to challenge, to search, to question. They spend too much time in expensive bars and restaurants with those they are supposed to be reporting on. They have turned into celebrities (and whores), who are more concerned with ratings than the role of the press. I'm sickened by the lot of them. Lapdogs.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. We did beat out Cuba and Venezuela

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15331

[Blaq Dem]

22. All one has to do is ask black americans about freedom in this country

When it comes to "freedom", rich white males have no idea. They think we're supposed to bow down to them as if we're a bunch of slaves. They don't want to hear what anyone else has to say. They want it ALL and they want it NOW.. That's the true essence of "conservativism" -- preserving that WASP-like structure.

[Uncle Joe]

23. Damn, I thought we were ranked 27th,

I guess, I will have to update my records. I have an idea for our new slogan. Yeah! Freedom of the Press! We are in the top 50! :sarcasm:

[VegasWolf]

24. USA Ranking: 28th Science; 26th Math; 1st Bible Studies. nt

[triguy46]

25. go figure... n/t

[Zhade]

26. Wait, wasn't it like 38th last year?

It's gotten WORSE!