Report Shows Distressing Drop In American Freedom :: 11/29/2014

It may come as no surprise to millions of Americans, but a recent report confirms the fact that liberty – specifically freedom of the press – has taken a precipitous hit under Barack Obama’s leadership. Unfortunately, the administration lapdogs within the mainstream media are too often freely giving up their rights based on an apparent allegiance to the leftist cause.

According to the latest yearly Freedom Index report by nonprofit organization Reporters Without Borders, the U.S. dropped a staggering 13 places among the world’s nations in just one year based on indicators of journalistic freedom.

In 2012, the report ranked 32 nations higher than America in regard to freedom of information. By 2013, the U.S. had dropped to number 46 out of the 180 countries included in the study.

A major factor in the dip was the reaction to Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency employee who is now living in exile after releasing private documents regarding the organization’s spying program.

“Both the U.S. and U.K. authorities seem obsessed with hunting down whistleblowers,” the report concluded, “instead of adopting legislation to rein in abusive surveillance that negate privacy, a democratic value cherished in both countries.”

Each year, researchers look at a variety of factors in determining a nation’s rank. According to the organization’s description, this report “reflects the degree of freedom” journalists enjoy in a particular country while examining “efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom.”

This group is not alone in its assessment. Society of Professional Journalists President David Cuillier responded to the report in a recent Fox News interview.

He said reporters are often intimidated by government sources within the U.S., leading to a reticence toward revealing the entire truth in certain cases. The inevitable result of such a climate, he explained, is widespread distrust of the media.

The government, Cuillier said, “will do as much as they can get away with,” noting the American people are often tacit supporters of such methods.

“If the public lets them do it,” he said, “or cheers them on, then they’ll do everything they can to control their message.”

While some media sources are apparently willing to parrot the administration’s talking points, there are fortunately a number of alternative outlets dedicated to sharing the unadulterated truth with millions of readers and viewers each day.

–B. Christopher Agee

http://www.westernjournalism.com/report-shows-distressing-drop-american-freedom/