Freedom of the press 2011 : United States falls 27 places to 47th

Home of the free... right.

2011 - 2012 worldwide press freedom index

The United States (47th) also owed its fall of 27 places to the many arrests of journalist covering Occupy Wall Street protests.

European Union :

Within the European Union, the index reflects a continuation of the very marked distinction between countries such as Finland and Netherlands that have always had a good evaluation and countries such as Bulgaria (80th), Greece (70th) and Italy (61st) that fail to address the issue of their media freedom violations, above all because of a lack of political will. There was little progress from France, which went from 44th to 38th, or from Spain (39th) and Romania (47th).

Arab countries :

The Arab world was the motor of history in 2011 but the Arab uprisings have had contrasting political outcomes so far, with Tunisia and Bahrain at opposite ends of the scale. Tunisia (134th) rose 30 places in index and, with much suffering, gave birth to a democratic regime that has not yet fully accepted a free and independent press. Bahrain (173rd) fell 29 places because of its relentless crackdown on pro-democracy movements, its trials of human rights defenders and its suppression of all space for freedom.

Bahrain is our ``ally``...

Worst : Eritrea

Finally, Eritrea (179th) came last in the index for the fifth year running. Freedom of opinion, like all the other freedoms, does not exist under the totalitarian dictatorship that President Issaias Afeworki has imposed on this Horn of Africa country. At least 30 journalists are currently detained in appalling conditions. Some have been held for more than 10 years.

Best : Finland/Norway.

The whole list : Actual list

But the U.S.A. is number one in everything! The U.S. is the freest country in the world, and it just goes to show you that if this list has Norway and Finland as the highest, then it's clear that this list was compiled by bleeding-heart socialist commies!

27 places all because a bunch of journalists got taken in by police? Why, in Iran, they'd have been killed right there in the streets. Besides, they were nothing but sympathizers with a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings that should be grateful they aren't rounded up as the terrorists they are. Yes, that's right, domestic terrorists. FOX said so!

USA! USA! USA!

This certainly puts things into perspective. We are taught that America is number one, and she is the beacon of light for the rest of the world, I think I realised when I was 10 that is was hogwash.

Everyone else can see it, besides most Americans......

American freedom is a joke.

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Ah that's a nice list
We're at a shared third place, awesome!
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Well, at least now we know where to look for open, free press reports!
Thanks for this post, vitchilo, I didn't know they had such a thing as a ranking system.