Freedom of Press: U.S. ranks 22nd

Nothing earth-shattering here. U.S. is ranked 22nd for journalistic freedom and free speech among news-producing countries worldwide.

United States Scores Surprisingly Low on
Press Freedom Index

12/6/04

The United States has a reputation for freedom of speech. It's one of the Bill of Rights, after all. US citizens may be surprised, then, that their government's Press Freedom Index rank falls below that of countries like Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Estonia, and - horror of horrors - France!

Reporters without Borders, an international press freedom association, publishes every year a list of world governments, ranked by their treatment of press freedom. They compile the list by consulting with partner organizations, correspondents, journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists, who answer 52 questions to indicate the the state of press freedom in 167 countries.

This year's list places the United States at position 22 (tied with Belgium). The reason for the US' low position?

"Violations of the privacy of sources, persistent problems in granting press visas and the arrest of several journalists during anti-Bush demonstrations kept the United States (22nd) away from the top of the list." - from the Americas Evaluation

(Story link at MPBlog, an internet privacy news blog by service provider, Metropipe.)

I'm surprised the U.S. ranked as high as it did. But apparently, in Reporters Without Borders / Reporters sans frontieres' first press freedom index in 2002, the U.S. ranked 44th and climbed to 31st position in 2003, and 22nd in 2004.

But then again, there's no need for nasty media oppression, when entire events can be staged 'for the camera,' and nicely glorified.

Canada has dropped from 10th position in 2002 and 2003, to 18th in 2004. Funny how this shift corresponds with my 'conspiracy warnings' of Canadian media's deteriorating commitment to journalistic integrity, and concerns about the U.S.'s growing influence. My earnest emails on this topic began in early 2004. Also see 'Fox news and free speech' post.