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:: Thursday, September 9th, 2010Media Watch
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U.S. drops 20 places in Press Freedom rankings
10/20/05 · 1:18 pm :: posted by WB
U.S. ranks 44th out of 167 nations in "Press Freedom"
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- "North Korea once again ranks last in the fourth annual World Press Freedom Index, and the United States drops more than 20 places on this 167-country list... But a growing number of African and Latin American countries have earned very respectable rankings: Benin 25, Namibia 25, El Salvador 28, Cape Verde 29, Mauritius 34, Mali 37, Costa Rica 41 (They were all ahead of The United States in 44th place)...
"Leading the Index once again are northern European countries Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands, where robust press freedom is alive and well. The top 10 are all European. The highest-ranking countries in other continents are New Zealand (12), Trinidad and Tobago (12), Benin (25) and South Korea (34)...
"Countries that have recently won or regained their independence value press freedom very highly, thereby disproving the fallacy advocated by many authoritarian leaders that democracy takes decades to establish itself. Nine states that have only existed, or regained their independence, within the past 15 years, are found among the top 60 countries in the Index: Slovenia (9), Estonia (11), Latvia (16), Lithuania (21), Namibia (25), Bosnia-Herzegovina (33), Macedonia (43)..."
Followed by us
P.S. A few comments seemed obvious to the G.A.O. reports of the White House "paying" for news coverage of various administration agendas. For you doubters see this report and these;
- Jan. 7, 2005Pundit: Contract Tied to Coverage Promoting Administration
- Jan. 10, 2005Press, Bias and Facts: CBS and Armstrong Williams
- Jan. 14, 2005Armstrong Williams Deal Prompts Hill Probe
- Jan. 26, 2005Columnist Gallagher Received Payments from Health Department
- Bush calls a halt to paying columnists for PR
Boston Globe - 52 minutes ago
President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries yesterday not to hire columnists to promote their agendas after disclosure that a second writer was paid to research an administration initiative.
Bush: Pundit payments will stop CNN
Bush Urges End to Contracts With Commentators Washington Post
Houston Chronicle - New York Times - OpEdNews - The Advocate - all 204 related »
23 comments
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10/20/05 @ 2:39 pm
The Watcher [Visitor] writes:
And who are the individuals that make up the World Press Freedom Index? What is their credibility?
bryfry [Visitor] writes:
Click on the picture for the full article. It's the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders. Take that for what it's worth.
Otis the town drunk [Visitor] writes:
I was curious about by what standards American press freedoms have fallen.
Reading the full story, I found that:
"Western democracies have also slipped in the Index. The United States (44) fell more than 20 places, mainly due to the imprisonment of New York Times reporter Judith Miller and judicial action that is undermining the privacy of journalistic sources, the group said. Federal courts are getting increasingly bold about subpoenaing journalists and trying to force them to disclose their confidential sources, it added. "
The Miller fiasco may be a sign of some disturbing things, but not that American press freedoms have fallen behind Namibia's.
However, no doubt in my mind that support for press freedoms in the U.S. have fallen during the Bush years. Numerous polls show that if we put the First Amendment up for a vote by national referendum, it would probably fail.
Reading the full story, I found that:
"Western democracies have also slipped in the Index. The United States (44) fell more than 20 places, mainly due to the imprisonment of New York Times reporter Judith Miller and judicial action that is undermining the privacy of journalistic sources, the group said. Federal courts are getting increasingly bold about subpoenaing journalists and trying to force them to disclose their confidential sources, it added. "
The Miller fiasco may be a sign of some disturbing things, but not that American press freedoms have fallen behind Namibia's.
However, no doubt in my mind that support for press freedoms in the U.S. have fallen during the Bush years. Numerous polls show that if we put the First Amendment up for a vote by national referendum, it would probably fail.
Rough Rider [Visitor] writes:
Say it isn't so- the First Amendment is my favorite. From the founding of our country, the press has doggedly carried out their role- nothing has changed. You wouldn't believe the cartoons and editorials I was subjected to-- some things never change.
Peter Porcupine [Visitor] writes:
Let's look at the resume of the 'judges' -
Reporters Without Borders compiled the Index of 167 countries by asking its partner organizations (14 freedom-of-expression groups scattered across five continents) and its network of 130 correspondents (SO - FEWER REPORTERS THAN COUNTRIES ASSESSED) -- as well as journalists, researchers, legal experts and human rights activists (HMMM....WONDER HOW MANY AVIDLY PRO-AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THERE ARE...) -- to answer 50 questions used to assess the status of press freedom in each country. Some countries were omitted due to a lack of information (MUST BE NICE TO DITCH THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND NOT BE PENALIZED).
Judith Miller went to a clean and safe faciltiy under her own steam, making what is an increasingly unclear point about her sources, since she didn't seem to have any relevant information that she was asked to keep secret. This 'mistreatment' is contrasted with the behading of Daniel Pearl?
Ironically, the right-leaning blogosphere is snickering over the fact that a reporter from the ultra-liberal and anti-war London paper, the Guardian, was kipnapped, and may well be rescued by the very troops he was slamming - if the poor fellow makes it back at all.
By the way - I wonder how many papers East Timor has? Or just one really liberal one?
Reporters Without Borders compiled the Index of 167 countries by asking its partner organizations (14 freedom-of-expression groups scattered across five continents) and its network of 130 correspondents (SO - FEWER REPORTERS THAN COUNTRIES ASSESSED) -- as well as journalists, researchers, legal experts and human rights activists (HMMM....WONDER HOW MANY AVIDLY PRO-AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THERE ARE...) -- to answer 50 questions used to assess the status of press freedom in each country. Some countries were omitted due to a lack of information (MUST BE NICE TO DITCH THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND NOT BE PENALIZED).
Judith Miller went to a clean and safe faciltiy under her own steam, making what is an increasingly unclear point about her sources, since she didn't seem to have any relevant information that she was asked to keep secret. This 'mistreatment' is contrasted with the behading of Daniel Pearl?
Ironically, the right-leaning blogosphere is snickering over the fact that a reporter from the ultra-liberal and anti-war London paper, the Guardian, was kipnapped, and may well be rescued by the very troops he was slamming - if the poor fellow makes it back at all.
By the way - I wonder how many papers East Timor has? Or just one really liberal one?
The Watcher [Visitor] writes:
Thank you Peter- I thought as much. it would be hard to beleive that more freedom of the press could be present anywhere.
H,L,M. [Visitor] writes:
You right-wingers HAVE heard about the White House buying the opinions of news people and columnists with our tax money, haven't you? Isn't that the way Stalin and Hilter used to handle the news?
None are so blind as those who will not see.
None are so blind as those who will not see.
The Watcher [Visitor] writes:
H,L,M:
Are there to be indictments of White House personnel or columnists? When did this happen? I thought that Hitler and Stalin used violence and fear of death as a means to motivate German and Soviet media as they took power, and once in power the government ran the media outlets! I suppose these "bribes" would explain why all the major newspapers and broadcasters are so pro administration. Action must be taken before it is too late!
Are there to be indictments of White House personnel or columnists? When did this happen? I thought that Hitler and Stalin used violence and fear of death as a means to motivate German and Soviet media as they took power, and once in power the government ran the media outlets! I suppose these "bribes" would explain why all the major newspapers and broadcasters are so pro administration. Action must be taken before it is too late!
Peter Porcupine [Visitor] writes:
Henry? Is that you, Mr. Mencken?
For one moment, let us say it is true that the White House is 'bribing' reporters to write favorable stories (although I would think they would use freely donated campaign funds rather than tax money - you have a GAO audit in your hip pocket, do you?). I repeat, how is that comparable to slicing out the tongue of a reporter with a rusty knife to ensure good PR?
The fact that you can MAKE such a statement without fear for your life is, to me, a good measure how how free our press really is.
And pause to consider if the dismissal and demotion of MSM reporters who do not toe a liberal line isn't ALSO just another form of 'bribery'.
You would have said so when you were writing in Baltimore.
For one moment, let us say it is true that the White House is 'bribing' reporters to write favorable stories (although I would think they would use freely donated campaign funds rather than tax money - you have a GAO audit in your hip pocket, do you?). I repeat, how is that comparable to slicing out the tongue of a reporter with a rusty knife to ensure good PR?
The fact that you can MAKE such a statement without fear for your life is, to me, a good measure how how free our press really is.
And pause to consider if the dismissal and demotion of MSM reporters who do not toe a liberal line isn't ALSO just another form of 'bribery'.
You would have said so when you were writing in Baltimore.
crusader [Member] writes:
H.L.M.,
I'm with you. Seems I've been bombarded by the right wingers in my own blog recently.
There is no true "Freedom of Speech" in this country, at least when it comes to the Republican Party. All stories regarding what really happened during 911 were either dismantled or censored by the present administration.
Gone are the days of Woodward and Bernstein reporting. Remember "All The Presidents Men?".
Wouldn't be great,today, to have the same reporters who took down the Nixon Administration and a paper like the Washington Post that stood by them?
What a hypocrisy.
I'm with you. Seems I've been bombarded by the right wingers in my own blog recently.
There is no true "Freedom of Speech" in this country, at least when it comes to the Republican Party. All stories regarding what really happened during 911 were either dismantled or censored by the present administration.
Gone are the days of Woodward and Bernstein reporting. Remember "All The Presidents Men?".
Wouldn't be great,today, to have the same reporters who took down the Nixon Administration and a paper like the Washington Post that stood by them?
What a hypocrisy.
Anon E. Mouse [Visitor] writes:
H.L.M and Crusader,
Do you have any examples of "the White House buying the opinions of news people and columnists?"
Do you have any examples of "the White House buying the opinions of news people and columnists?"
WB [Member] writes:
For all you Bushies with your heads in the sand, I added a few links to the post above for those of you who missed the 10,000 news stories in the past year about The White House paying off columnists and news channels to be flacks for his failed education program and the resulting G.A.O. condemnation.
A Different One [Visitor] writes:
Mr. Mouse - A conservative black writer known to favor the Bush administration was given White Hosue press credentials, and was paid for op-ed pieces he wrote. THIS is the horrific bribe.
Crusader - My sympathy is scant. I had to listen to the drivelling of Christopher Lydon - supported by my tax money - for years, along with the rest of the lockstep of liberal media. Turnabout is fair play; the country has taken a more conservative turn. Do you have ANY substantiation to your claim that the Republican Party censored stories after 9/11?
WB - If you wanted to bring the story about the paid columnists to our attention - why not write about that instead of claiming our press isn't free when that is manifestly untrue?
Crusader - My sympathy is scant. I had to listen to the drivelling of Christopher Lydon - supported by my tax money - for years, along with the rest of the lockstep of liberal media. Turnabout is fair play; the country has taken a more conservative turn. Do you have ANY substantiation to your claim that the Republican Party censored stories after 9/11?
WB - If you wanted to bring the story about the paid columnists to our attention - why not write about that instead of claiming our press isn't free when that is manifestly untrue?
Drew [Member] writes:
WB,
Don't you think there is a huge difference between "buying" opinions and being forced to bypass an uncooperative media to explain a meaningful education agenda?
This is comparable to Cape Wind, for example, being forced to distribute the truth about a project that has all along deserved fair, unbiased media recognition.
Don't you think there is a huge difference between "buying" opinions and being forced to bypass an uncooperative media to explain a meaningful education agenda?
This is comparable to Cape Wind, for example, being forced to distribute the truth about a project that has all along deserved fair, unbiased media recognition.
crusader [Member] writes:
A Different One,
Read my most recent blog again, "Oh King George. . . . ", get a copy of "The War on Freedom" and draw your own conclusions.
There are too many unanswered questions this administration ha
Read my most recent blog again, "Oh King George. . . . ", get a copy of "The War on Freedom" and draw your own conclusions.
There are too many unanswered questions this administration ha
crusader [Member] writes:
A Different One,
Read my most recent blog again, "Oh King George. . . . ", get a copy of "The War on Freedom" and draw your own conclusions.
There are too many unanswered questions this administration has avoided, there are too many reliable sources (not just liberal views) The Wall Street Journal, high government officials, FBI, etc., listed in this book. The BBC news is more balanced and accurate than U.S.
The author is from Britain.
Look at what happened to reporter, Judith Miller, don't you think she has been made an example by this administration as a tool to discourage any over zealous, aggressive reporters?
Read my most recent blog again, "Oh King George. . . . ", get a copy of "The War on Freedom" and draw your own conclusions.
There are too many unanswered questions this administration has avoided, there are too many reliable sources (not just liberal views) The Wall Street Journal, high government officials, FBI, etc., listed in this book. The BBC news is more balanced and accurate than U.S.
The author is from Britain.
Look at what happened to reporter, Judith Miller, don't you think she has been made an example by this administration as a tool to discourage any over zealous, aggressive reporters?
Drew [Visitor] writes:
Crusader,
Do you honestly believe our news is controlled by our government?
There may be some truth found in portions of your suggested reading, but the deductions made from these bits is hysterical.
Don't you think I could pull together dribs and drabs of media stories of the past decade and paint hundreds of different pictures of real events?
Do you honestly believe our news is controlled by our government?
There may be some truth found in portions of your suggested reading, but the deductions made from these bits is hysterical.
Don't you think I could pull together dribs and drabs of media stories of the past decade and paint hundreds of different pictures of real events?
Jake Giddes [Visitor] writes:
Perhaps Crusader could enlighten us as to the stories about 9/11 that were "dismantled" or "censored" by the Bush junta. Come to think of it, Crusader may be onto something - all the hijackers were silenced that day ...
Drew [Member] writes:
Repeat question to WB,
Don't you think there is a huge difference between "buying" opinions and being forced to bypass a hostile, uncooperative media to explain a meaningful education agenda?
This is comparable to Cape Wind, for example, being forced to distribute the truth about a project that has all along deserved fair, unbiased media recognition.
Don't you think there is a huge difference between "buying" opinions and being forced to bypass a hostile, uncooperative media to explain a meaningful education agenda?
This is comparable to Cape Wind, for example, being forced to distribute the truth about a project that has all along deserved fair, unbiased media recognition.
WB [Member] writes:
Yes, a huge difference.
Bush spent your tax dollars and mine in a covert, ILLEGAL way.
Cape Wind spent its own money.
If you think America's education system is in good shape, you aren't reading the news reports about our education'S standing vs. other industrilaized natuions has falling significantly in the past few years, AND SECRETLY PAYING OFF JOURNALISTS TO PRAISE IT WILL NOT MAKE IT BETTER.
Bush spent your tax dollars and mine in a covert, ILLEGAL way.
Cape Wind spent its own money.
If you think America's education system is in good shape, you aren't reading the news reports about our education'S standing vs. other industrilaized natuions has falling significantly in the past few years, AND SECRETLY PAYING OFF JOURNALISTS TO PRAISE IT WILL NOT MAKE IT BETTER.
Drew [Visitor] writes:
So, a hostile and uncooperative media had nothing to do with the Education Department being forced to promote its agenda.
Apparently, it also did not matter to the media that No Child Left Behind had the bipartisan support of Democrats who wanted to look good to an electorate concerned about matters of education. These same Democrats immediately turned their backs and started the inquiry into this promotion of the agenda they supported.
I consider it money well spent... unlike the pork we should really be upset about.
Apparently, it also did not matter to the media that No Child Left Behind had the bipartisan support of Democrats who wanted to look good to an electorate concerned about matters of education. These same Democrats immediately turned their backs and started the inquiry into this promotion of the agenda they supported.
I consider it money well spent... unlike the pork we should really be upset about.
the great gadfly [Visitor] writes:
Media bias prompted by profit? Now there is a new concept. Why do we expect a human institution to be free of human foibles? Did not the Kennedy administration (can you spell Camelot?) exert pressure on the press to report favorably on the mess in Vietnam? And was not the most august victim of this pressure the New York Times? If we want tio eliminate bias in the press all we have to do is to igbnore all political matters as worthy of being covered and then eliminate all humans from the press process. Until then, let us blog away and let our own voices be heard. (But, perhaps we should be informed before we blog.)
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