The latest press freedom index shows that the US has slipped three spots and now shares the same rank as Tonga and Gambia.
This comes as local news organizations close down and major networks become more partisan, leading to a decline in press freedom.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global media watchdog, rated the US as 45th out of 180 countries, a far cry from its European allies and just managing to maintain a “satisfactory” rating.
Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center survey found that 60% of US-based journalists, regardless of political affiliation, were deeply concerned about the erosion of press freedoms.
The recent criticisms of US journalism come on the heels of the dismissals of Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, as well as Fox News settling a defamation lawsuit over false claims made by its presenters regarding the 2020 election results.
However, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) online report, released on World Press Freedom Day, suggests that freedom of the press violations in the US have declined considerably.
Despite this, the report still highlights significant issues in the country, as the US continues to lag behind its European counterparts in terms of press freedom.
Source: Daily Mail UK
