US falls to 45th on press freedom index, Trump labeled 'media-bashing enthusiast'

Source: source | April 25, 2018 | Joe Concha

Reporters Without Borders has dropped the United States to No. 45 in its annual ranking of press freedom for 180 countries around the world.

In the report released Wednesday, the United States received a “fairly good” rating, which falls below the category of “good” which only 9 percent of the world was rated.

The ranking continues a downward trend for the U.S. in recent years. The country finished No. 43 in 2017 and No. 41 in 2016.

The report pins part of the blame for the U.S. slide on President Trump and his regular attacks on the media. The president often uses the term “fake news” in describing the American media. 

“The United States, the country of the First Amendment, has fallen again in the Index under Donald Trump, this time two places to 45th,” the report says. “A media-bashing enthusiast, Trump has referred to reporters ‘enemies of the people,’ the term once used by Joseph Stalin.”

“The U.S.’ decline in press freedom is not simply bad news for journalists working inside the country; the downward trend has drastic consequences at the international level,” the report noted. ” ‘Fake news’ is now a trademark excuse for media repression, in both democratic and authoritarian regimes.”

Norway and Sweden were ranked at the top for press freedom for the second straight year, while North Korea, Eritrea, Turkmenistan, Syria and China were ranked at the bottom.

The report notes that attacks on the media are “no longer limited to authoritarian countries” and that “democratically elected leaders” no longer see the media as essential.  

“Hostility towards the media from political leaders is no longer limited to authoritarian countries such as Turkey (down two at 157th) and Egypt (161st), where “media-phobia” is now so pronounced that journalists are routinely accused of terrorism and all those who don’t offer loyalty are arbitrarily imprisoned,” the report says.

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