Steadily over the last few years I've noticed marked changes in US news coverage. Not positive changes it has to be said. Other friends who work and travel there have also noticed a growing lack of impartiality and a remarkably different slant on news (not just on the Iraq war but on many other subjects too) when compared to what we read, see and listen to in just about every other country.
I've met a few Americans who now make deliberate efforts to tune into other countries news sources to get an unbiased view of world affairs. They shouldn't have to do this. It makes my nervous that a country that I admire, that has achieved so much and has often made (perhaps not entirely altruistically) a stand for freedom is showing signs of being on a slippery slope to extremism.
So I was particulaly interested to stumble on this index http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19388 of world press freedom. Out of 168 countries the USA are placed a very poor 53rd (equal with Croatia and Botswana). The UK ranks 27th - which frankly isn't all that brilliant either.
The accompanying text notes:
"The United States (53rd) has fallen nine places since last year, after being in 17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his “war on terrorism.” The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognise the media’s right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism."
I hadn't heard of "Reporters without Borders" but what I've read so far impresses me. I'll have to delve into what they do a little more.
