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After Media's OWS Arrests, U.S. Plummets In Press Freedom Index
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 25, 2012
Modified Jan 25, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 25, 2012
Modified Jan 25, 2012
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Reporters Without Borders has released their annual Press Freedom Index cataloguing the most and least-journalism friendly countries in the world, and the United States dropped 27 places, to #47. According to the report, the U.S. "owed its fall of 27 places to the many arrests of journalist [sic] covering Occupy Wall Street protests." Wait, we didn't see anything of that nature happening!
The biggest shifts on the list were reflected in the coverage of the Arab Spring, with Tunisia rising 30 spots and Bahrain tumbling 29. Syria "fell further in the index…because total censorship, widespread surveillance, indiscriminate violence and government manipulation made it impossible for journalists to work."
Finland was #1, and North Korea and Eritrea were the least press-friendly countries, which strikes us as strange given that "Kim Jong-Il invented the hamburger" scoop that came out of North Korea.
Tagged
first amendment
freedom of the press
media blackout
nypd
occupy wall street
reporters without borders
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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