U.S. Press Freedom

According to a CNN report, press freedom in the US has dropped 29 spots in the annual Reporters Without Borders report since Obama took house in 2009. As of 2015, the US is ranked at 49, which is the second lowest ranking in US history. The lowest ranking was 53^rd during Bush’s presidency.

In terms of gathering information, Obama’s administration has made it increasingly difficult for journalists and reporters to gain access to classified information. This creates a high level of secrecy amongst officials.

“We determine Obama administration has launched a war against whistleblowers,” said Delphine Halgand, the U.S. director of Reporters Without Borders, to CNN.

Since Obama came into presidency, eight alleged whistleblowers have been prosecuted under the Espionage Act.

Multiple instances have taken place where journalist’s freedom has been put at jeopardy. A number of these times have lead to prosecution. Earlier this year, ex-CIA officer Jerry Sterling was convicted of nine felony counts for revealing classified information to New York Times reporter James Risen. His conviction was applauded by numerous high up officials. Risen had held strong when federal prosecutors were forcing him to reveal the identity of his source and in the end was not prosecuted.

FBI Director James Comey told CNN that “the FBI will continue to pursue these cases vigorously.”

Although Risen had escaped prosecution, there have been multiple instances where journalists haven’t been as fortunate. In 2003, Judith Miller of the New York Times was jailed after refusing to reveal the identity of an anonymous source who had provided her information about Valerie Plame, a CIA agent, who had set up a trip based on false documents for her U.S. Ambassador husband to investigate in Niger.

39 States have shield laws in place to allow journalists a level of protection from revealing anonymous sources. However, these laws have not been approved federally.

The drop in the US ranking is significantly lower than its western allies such as Canada (who ranks 8^th) and the United Kingdom (who ranks 34). In addition, some countries that rank above the US are Samoa (ranking 40), Chile (ranking 43) and Niger (ranking 47).

It is a journalist’s duty to hold those in power accountable by presenting information to the greater public. As seen in the decline of the U.S. in the World Press Freedom Index, these duties are in jeopardy. Not only has the press freedom been declining, but those in power seem to be keen on keeping it that way.

After studying foreign hostile environments throughout the semester and learning about the implications journalists face within their respective governments, I was shocked to see that the U.S. ranked in relative comparison. The First Amendment is set in place to protect press freedom and freedom of speech. These are values that the media has continually enforced upon the public. It has become apparent to me from the Index that we are a country who does not have as much freedom as we are made to believe.