Every year, the NGO Reporters Without Borders (also known by its French acronym RSF) issues an index of world press freedom. Amazingly, the 2005 index ranked the US 44th in press freedom.
How quickly things have deteroriated under the Bush administration? The US ranked 17th in press freedom as recently as 2002.
The US ranked below El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, the 'Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys,' all the 'socialist' Scandinavian nations, eight countries who were behind the Iron Curtain fewer than two decades ago and even a half dozen African states.
At least we (barely) ranked above Israel, Mozambique and Mongolia.
The RSF report cites executive and judicial attacks on journalists as well as police retaliation against journalists who do reporting that displeases them. RSF also criticized recent comments by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Bear in mind that the RSF index was compiled before revelations of widespread warrantless spying by the Justice Department [sic] on journalists.
This is just the formal government pressures on the free press. The MSF index doesn't directly take into account indirect pressures on journalistic independence caused by widespread media consolidation.
Note: Iraq was 10th bottom during Saddam's last year. They've skyrocketed up to 11th bottom in 2005 under LIBERATION. Huzzah!
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