Is press freedom on the decline? Reporters Without Borders says yes.

[forest444]

Source: Christian Science Monitor

Press freedom worsened in 2015 across every region of the globe, according to a report released Wednesday by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

"Today, it is increasingly easy for powers to appeal directly to the public through new technologies, and so there is a greater degree of violence against those who represent independent information," said RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire in a statement accompanying the report.. "Journalism worthy of the name must be defended against the increase in propaganda and media content that is made to order or sponsored by vested interests."

The World Press Freedom Index, published annually since 2002, measures "pluralism, media independence, the quality of the legal framework, and the safety of journalists in 180 countries," says the report. The data come from a questionnaire, published in 20 languages and completed by experts all over the world, combined with data on abuse and violence against journalists. Since 2013, the index has included a number representing the overall level of media oppression in each nation and region. The higher the figure, the worse the situation.

According to the 2016 report, Europe remains the region with the freest media (19.8), followed by Africa (36.9), which ranked better than the Americas (37.1) for the first time. Asia ranked third (43.8), followed by Eastern Europe/Central Asia (48.4), while North Africa/Middle East (50.8) was ranked the worst.

Finland was ranked as the country with the highest degree of press freedom, followed by the Netherlands and Norway. The United States was ranked 41st, up from 49th last year, a position that the watchdog attributed to cyber surveillance.

Eritrea ranked as the country with the worst media freedom worldwide, below Syria, China, and North Korea.

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0420/Is-press-freedom-on-the-decline-Reporters-Without-Borders-says-yes

[7962]

1. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech both are under attack

Across the globe. Its worse here than I've ever seen it since i've been alive. The old saying "I may disagree with what youre saying but I'll defend with my life your right to say it" is long gone. Now its just "Shout louder than they're talking"
One needs to only look at universities to see how bad its gotten.

[Feeling the Bern]

7. That really isn't Freedom of Speech. Governmental interference of speech is Freedom of Speech

And with that, I agree. Our government has been chipping away at the first amendment ever since 9/11. And people are so afraid of their own shadows due to 24/7 terrorist news coverage that they accept it.

Democracy is dying, and people, not the leaders, are holding the knife that carves her.

[seabeckind]

2. Did somebody mention the Fairness Doctrine?

Time to nip that in the bud.

Get some propaganda out there before somebody starts talking about accountability.

It isn't that we don't have enough freedom in the press, it's that we have too much in the way of special interests controlling it.

[forest444]

3. Exactly.

The control is usually exerted quietly and underhandedly; although sometimes, a little less so.

http://news-beacon-ireland.info/?p=7946

[Quantess]

4. K & R

[silvershadow]

5. This is where a "bear, shitting in the woods" emoji would be helpful. :D nt

[forest444]

6. Sad but true. And as Frank LaRue, former UN Freedom of Expression monitor pointed out:

These days the biggest threat to freedom of the press isn't government censorship anymore, but monopolization.