The crackdown on journalists covering the Occupy Wall Street movement has caused the United States to drop to 47th internationally in a leading survey of press freedom.

Jonathan Foster, a staff photographer for RIT's weekly student magazine Reporter, was returning to the protest park after grabbing a pen from his car when police grabbed him, 11/14/11. (photo: College Media Matters)

US Plummets to #47 in Press Freedom Ranking After OWS Arrests

By Josh Stearns, Save the News

27 January 12

n last night's State of the Union address, President Obama called for a "renewal of American values." However, over the course of his wide-ranging speech, he made no mention of one core value: the fundamental role of the free press in America.

This absence was highlighted this morning when Reporters Without Borders released its 2011–2012 global Press Freedom Index. After months of journalist arrests and press suppression at Occupy Wall Street-inspired protests, the United States has dropped significantly in the rankings.

According to this report, the U.S. has dropped 27 places to 47th in the world. This is especially troubling as we head into an election year which is sure to spark new conflicts between police and press covering rallies, protests and political events.

And these Occupy arrests are not isolated incidents. According to organizations like the Society for Professional Journalists, the National Press Photographers Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the arrests at Occupy events are part of a growing trend in the U.S. and worldwide.

President Obama has often made media reform and press freedom part of his platform. As a candidate he called for Internet freedom, greater media diversity and limits on media consolidation. "The arc of human progress has been shaped by individuals with the freedom to assemble," Obama said in a speech at the United Nations in 2009, "and by organizations outside of government that insisted upon democratic change and by free media that held the powerful accountable."

Just last year, at the White House Correspondents Dinner, President Obama directly addressed press freedom and violence toward journalists. He said:

"You know, in the last months, we've seen journalists threatened, arrested, beaten, attacked and in some cases even killed simply for doing their best to bring us the story, to give people a voice and to hold leaders accountable. And through it all, we've seen daring men and women risk their lives for the simple idea that no one should be silenced, and everyone deserves to know the truth.

"That's what you do. At your best that's what journalism is. That's the principle that you uphold. It is always important, but it's especially important in times of challenge, like the moment that America and the world is facing now."

It's time to confront this issue head on. We can't take the First Amendment for granted, and we need to open up a national discussion about the role of the media and freedom of the press in our democracy. The media landscape is changing at a profound rate, and we must ensure that our policies and institutions keep pace. If, as President Obama asserts, we need a renewal of American values, then the First Amendment should be high on our list.

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.

Comments

+18 # Buddha 2012-01-27 09:32

Just wait as the mailed fist begins to close and the coming Police State tightens its grip. We'll long for the days today's faux Free nation...

+14 # panhead49 2012-01-27 09:40

Well, we are Americans and we will not stop until We're Number One in loss of freedom of the press/speech. It's the 'merican way. Break out the big foam fingers kids.

+16 # John Locke 2012-01-27 10:02

I am surprised we are still that high considering our press is controlled. The press is the 4th estate, without a free press there can be no democracy... maybe that is the real issue,

+12 # Kayjay 2012-01-27 11:36

Alas, this is a classic sign of control under a dictatorship. Complete control of the press is a great way to keep things under wraps. In our case here in America, our dictatorship has many faces....you just have to peruse the mugs shots of the one percent club. We need to demand and handle the truth.

+5 # MsAnnaNOLA 2012-01-27 15:03

The Right's assaults on the post office are also assaults on the press. The 2nd class permit that is available to publications such as small town newspapers, magazines and such. The discounted 2nd class has been a stalwart of alternative media in the past.

We really need to protect the post office. If the right had their way we would have internet censorship and no 2nd class postage permit. Believe me it will be much harder to disseminate alternative media without a 2nd Class permit system.

+5 # Capn Canard 2012-01-27 15:07

I will admit to being totally duped by the MSM until I worked for the media in the 1990's. Just look at the whole September 11 thing! At that point it became clear that we have been routinely lied to for nearly a century. The media has been in the control of the wealthiest parts of our society, most notably the Oil industry and banking/financial cabal. Kinda like Ron Paul(no I wouldn't vote for Paul his chances are as good as Dennis Kucinich) running for Pres, the MSM just laughs at him because he challenges the Fed! They write the laws and they compel us to abide by their rules. If you challenge them and they will remember your intransigence. The fact that OWS can happen and be ignored for nearly two months is astonishing! The rest of the world took notice but the MSM tried very hard to ignore it. Meanwhile the Tea Bagger kooks get the front page and or a 2 minute lead story treatment! Even NPR has lost some of it's shine. Do we really need these MSM clowns? I used to work in the dying media of print journalism. At that time, yon could watch good stories die in editorial meetings. Like being sent to committee by Congress. Our country is a very weak shell of it's former glory in large part because we've sheet on independent media.

+1 # Kootenay Coyote 2012-01-27 16:26

USA: sunk with scarecely a trace, is now replaced by AmeriKKKa.

+1 # MendoChuck 2012-01-28 10:20

Actually this has been going on since Ted Turner showed the corporate world that the news could be a "profit center."
CNN led the way and the rest just fell into line.
Just follow the money trail folks . . .

0 # Billy Bob 2012-01-28 10:58

Didn't we invent the idea of a free press?

"And these Occupy arrests are not isolated incidents. According to organizations like the Society for Professional Journalists, the National Press Photographers Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the arrests at Occupy events are part of a growing trend in the U.S. and worldwide."

Let's not forget the need for "enbedded journalists" in our multiple wars for private profit at public expense. We can't have people at home thinking about foreign policy with the unvarnished truth at their disposal. That would be chaos.

Let's also not forget what sometimes happens "by accident" to those journalists brave enough to not be enbedded.

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