U.S. drops to 45 in ranking of countries based on freedom of the press

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-drops-to-45-in-ranking-of-countries-based-on-freedom-of-the-press-2018-04-25?mod=mw_share_facebook&fbclid=IwAR1a_tazBbQxtMKFtGTiHAouGmlkTEyFz1PV404MfdPPSyQ0kVS1b7puXWg

By Sally French
Published: April 26, 2018 at 1:38 p.m. ET

So much for that First Amendment right to freedom of the press. The U.S. has dropped to spot 45 in this year’s ranking of countries based on press freedom, conducted by NGO Reporters Without Borders.

The survey ranked 180 countries based on factors such as pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information. The index is compiled via a questionnaire distributed to experts based on both quantitative data and qualitative analysis.

The U.S. dropped two spots on this year’s list. The report specifically calls out new leadership under President Donald Trump as the driver behind the U.S.’s fall.

“A media-bashing enthusiast, Trump has referred to reporters as ‘enemies of the people,’ the term once used by Joseph Stalin,” the report says. Trump has also attempted to block White House access to multiple media outlets, routinely uses the term “fake news” in retaliation for critical reporting, and has called for revoking certain media outlets’ broadcasting licenses.

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Coming in at the top spot for the second year in a row is Norway, followed by Sweden. Other notable countries in the ranking include Russia at spot No. 148, and China, at spot No. 176. In last place? North Korea.

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