Rash of ‘Occupy’ arrests tank America’s annual press freedom score

[midnight]

By Stephen C. Webster
Thursday, January 26, 2012 14:48 EST


In the wide world of reporting, the nation of Finland is the very best place to be a journalist — or Norway (they’re tied for first). But in the United States, press freedoms are gradually sinking into the mire, and with them, so too goes the nation’s placement on the annual “Press Freedom Index” put together by Reporters Without Borders.

Because of the numerous reporters arrested by police forces across the country during the “Occupy Wall Street” protests in 2011, the group said that the U.S. fell 27 places on the list over 2010. The final damage: America placed 47th overall, just under Taiwan, Comoros, South Korea and Botswana. Even Ghana, Hungary and Niger received a better rating.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many journalists were harassed, abused or arrested for attempting to cover the protest movement, but reporter Josh Sterns estimates that the number was more than 50 if citizen journalists are counted among them. He noted that police, facing large crowds of angry protesters, have often decided it’s just easier to arrest everyone and figure out who’s who later on.


These tactics led to abuses much greater than just the trampling of press freedoms, such as an instance in San Diego where 50 arrestees were forced to wait in two police buses so long that some had to urinate and defecate on themselves.http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/26/rash-of-occupy-arrests-tanks-americas-press-freedom-score/

[RKP5637]

1. Not surprised at all. 47th might be a high spot as compared to coming years. Supression of

the press, an ominous sign for any country. Of course Fox News will receive some kind of award as fair and unbiased.

[izquierdista]

2. That means it's really about #83

Since America boasts that we're #1 with 37th rate health care, I figure 36 of the points in these type of rankings come from being "the richest, most powerful, most successful country in the histo..{you know the rest of the bullshit}".

There was a time when America really was #1 in the areas that counted. That wasn't all that hard after WWII, because much of the rest of the world was bombed to bits. What's really instructive is that while America maintained the #1 military in the years since WWII, they have let every measure of social progress drop down the ladder, rung by rung.

[limpyhobbler]

3. Not to be pessimistic but it's only going to get worse.

As people start getting even more serious about reducing inequality in America, they will start actually influencing politicians more and affecting elections.

People who have a stake in preventing change will use every tool they can to do so. And that will include increased repression of speech and the press.