Bold Decline in Press Freedom Worldwide: US Slips to 57th Position
Intense Deterioration of Press Freedom in the U.S., Warns Reporters Without Borders
In the latest World Press Freedom Index, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Norway grabs the top spot for the ninth consecutive year. However, the global situation for journalists isn't looking rosy, with the United States dropping two spots to 57th place, just behind Sierra Leone.
RSF's Editorial Director, Anne Bocandé, explains, "The situation in the US wasn't glowing to begin with, but it has taken a turn for the worse since Donald Trump's inauguration." Trump's administration has been accused of making "daily attacks" against the media, politicizing institutions, reducing support for independent media, and marginalizing journalists.
Trump's actions have caused a wave of "increasing hostility," and confidence in the media is "collapsing," according to RSF. The U.S. President has also initiated the dismantling of American public media abroad, such as Voice of America, leaving "over 400 million people" without access to reliable news sources.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) freeze on international aid funds has also plunged hundreds of media outlets into critical economic instability, forcing some to shut down, notably in Ukraine.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also expressed concerns this week, stating that "the freedom of the press is no longer a given in the United States."
Nordic countries continue to dominate the rankings, with Finland and Denmark following Norway in second and third place, respectively. Eritrea remains at the bottom of the list, just ahead of North Korea and China.
France, where a significant portion of the national press is controlled by a few large fortunes, has lost four places. Brazil, on the other hand, has registered a significant improvement in its ranking.
Notable drops can be seen in countries like Guinea and Argentina, as well as Palestine, where the Israeli army has been accused of destroying editorial offices and killing nearly 200 journalists.
RSF compiles this ranking based on a quantitative survey of abuses committed against journalists and a qualitative study with experts. The report highlights economic instability and sociopolitical tensions as significant contributors to the erosion of press freedom worldwide.
- Donald Trump's administration has been accused of causing a wave of increasing hostility towards the media, with confidence in the media collapsing, as explained by RSF's Editorial Director, Anne Bocandé.
- The U.S. President, Donald Trump, has initiated the dismantling of American public media abroad, leaving over 400 million people without access to reliable news sources.
- Trump's actions have caused the United States to drop two spots to 57th place in the World Press Freedom Index, just behind Sierra Leone.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also expressed concerns this week, stating that "the freedom of the press is no longer a given in the United States."
