The U.S. media is the 24th most free in the world – and dropping
April 30, 2010 by William K. Wolfrum
Freedom of the press has declined for the eighth year in a row, according to Freedom House’s annual report. And while the media has focused on the lack of media freedoms in such places as China and Venezuela, they’ve virtually ignored the U.S. position – No. 24 (PDF).
And following in the footsteps of the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration seems intent on making the media less free.
From Crooks & Liars:
In early 2008, the Bush Justice Department subpoenaed New York Times reporter James Risen over his book, State of War: The Secret History of the C.I.A. and the Bush Administration. Now, just two weeks after taking action against an NSA whistle-blower who leaked information about contract corruption to the Baltimore Sun, the Obama DOJ is continue its predecessor’s push to compel Risen to divulge his confidential sources. …
… as the New York Times detailed, despite the Obama administration’s professions of support for a new media-shield law, Attorney General Eric Holder is continuing President Bush’s pursuit of Risen.
For those who believe their freedoms are being taken away, hopefully they’ll soon recognize that a free and competent media is where all freedoms emanate.
–WKW
I just submitted this blog post to the Ministry of Truth.
FTA:
“For those who believe their freedoms are being taken away, hopefully they’ll soon recognize that a free and competent media is where all freedoms emanate.”
Well said.
The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion. ~Henry Steele Commager
[...] http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2010/04/30/the-u-s-media-is-the-24th-most-free-in-the-world-and-dropp... [...]
grammar nazi warning…
i agree with the spirit of the quote but it should read, “…media is from where all freedoms emanate.”
No. 25. At least according to that PDF.
FTA:
“For those who believe their freedoms are being taken away, hopefully they’ll soon recognize that a free and competent media is where all freedoms emanate.”
But if the media are incompetent, like they are in the USA, what freedom they do have gets squandered..
Might we focus more on the “competent” part of the “free and competent media”? So many news reports these days are published for shock or entertainment value, and not because they are the important issues on which we need to be focused. Awareness is one thing; fear-mongering, targeted negative headlines, and quote-unquote fair-and-unbiased platforms with agendas to push are something completely different. I agree with the spirit of free press, and any government control over press scares me. But can the press please show the ability to be adult, fair, and compassionate in its coverage?
[...] And did you hear that one hilarious joke about how the U.S. media is 24th most free in the world and falling? Hmm, I guess that’s not a joke…but like I said before, there is some dialectical, [...]
[...] Remember when the US was touted as the shining example of freedom to the rest of the world? Yeah, not so much anymore. The U.S. media is the 24th most free in the world – and dropping [...]
I recall watching a Video Yesterday where Obama stated that, although the media has it out for him, He thinks it is the most important thing that they have freedom of press – because even though people don’t get all the right facts because of bias, they are still involved politically and can hear counterpoints to arguments if they choose.
Let the press go free.. Let us together raise our voice for the real freedom.
Democracy only works when the majority is an informed majority.
The vote of the wise has the same weight of the vote of the stupid. Without an informed society the result of democracy is always stupidity. And that explain why we get the same bozos with diferent names as presidents.
I trust the media about as much as I trust the government these days. How many media outlets in this country don’t put their own spin on stories or just straight up make ***** up about events to further some political agenda?
“Competent” media, indeed…
With the attacks on Wikileaks, freedom of the press can only go down further in America. Everyone needs to stand solidly behind the rights of journalists to do their jobs. They are the nation’s eyes and ears.
You mean the segments that are obviously biased toward the right? Or the ones where they try to pawn off Republican scandals on the Democrats by identifying the perps as D instead of R?
I trust the media about as much as I trust the government these days. How many media outlets in this country don’t put their own spin on stories or just straight up make shit up about events to further some political agenda?
“Competent” media, indeed…
Actually according to your source, the US is number 25, not 24.
Natural rights are not given to us by any singular right, nor are they bequeathed unto us by any government, or band, or person. Natural rights (freedom) come to us simply by being born. They are only removed by powers of man.
[...] leave a comment » Straight from Dvorak Uncensored: “Remember when the US was touted as the shining example of freedom to the rest of the world? Yeah, not so much anymore. The U.S. media is the 24th most free in the world – and dropping [...]
[...] A free media is a vital part of having a free republic. Unfortunately today in the United States, freedom of the press is in decline. This is a distubing trend and one which could be quickly reversed in a free Third Palmetto [...]
[...] reports the government’s perspective? See here, here and here also. The US media is the 24th most free in the world (and dropping). And see the CIA’s plans to manipulate public opinion to support the war in [...]