U.S. Falls in World Press Freedom Ranking

The Washington Post ^ | October 21, 2005 | AP

[alternateae]

The United States dropped more than 20 spots, to 44th place, mainly because of the imprisonment of New York Times reporter Judith Miller and judicial action that was "undermining the privacy of journalistic sources," the statement said.

Miller spent 85 days in jail for initially refusing to reveal the source who disclosed the identity of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame. Miller was released this month after agreeing to testify before a grand jury.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001987.html

[hsalaw]

Yawn.

[xcamel]

Is there a word for "masturbatory journalism" ?

[satchmodog9]

blah blah blah blah. Love how they managed to get Iraq in there.

[atomicpossum]

More of the media's Christ Complex. Feh.

[dead]

[dynachrome]

The article is a bit outdated since it mentions Denmark as one of the free-est press. The Danish Prime minister apologized for the cartoons of Moe-hammad in one of their main newspapers and the newspaper in question apologized. Well on their way to dhimmi-tude.

[dighton]

Is there a word for "masturbatory journalism"?

Journonanism.

[Wasanother]

There is no protection for journalist when covering up a possible illegal crime. Also, they are not the determinate factor of the definition between whistle-blower to traitor.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Cleanup on aisle 3.
NB4ZOT

[MikefromOhio]

Who gives a flip??

[Chode]

since WHEN do we care what the WaPo thinks or says... huh??? please.

[Gay State Conservative]

That does it...I'm leaving! I refuse to live in a country with no press freedom.I heading to Cuba which,no doubt,scored #1 in this poll.

[FreedomCalls]

The top 10 countries on the list are European, led by Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands, where "robust press freedom is firmly established."

Not so fast there: "Unlike the Danish government, the Norwegian government is not concerned about safeguarding the right to freedom of expression: 'Freedom of expression is one of the pillars of Norwegian society. This includes tolerance for opinions that not everyone shares. At the same time our laws and our international obligations enforce restrictions for incitement to hatred or hateful expressions.'
~ Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Store via LGF "

[bpjam]

They I suggest that the Washington Post and whichever shcmuck think tank puts out this preposterous ranking move to one of those countries which is 'freer' than the US. Go ahead, get yourself free and move to Libya or one of the other 43 'freer' countries.

But lets not forget that not a single one of those other 43 countries above us in the rankings are responsible for anyone elses freedom. The US is actually responsible for all of those countries remaining free. If we didn't stop Communism and Nazism and Stalinism and Fascism, those top 43 countries wouldn't have the freedom to rank anything.

[cake_crumb]

"The United States dropped more than 20 spots, to 44th place...."

So nice to know Lady Liberty's acne is clearing up!

(there's no sense reading the rest of this trip if the author isn't bright enough write a correct sentence.

[bpjam]

2005 saw more freedom and democracy in the world than any time in history. And you can thank George Bush, the GOP majority and the US Military for that. Thank you very much.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Are we really supposed to give a shift about this?

[Cicero]

Interesting, considering that the Washington Post and the New York Times were more responsible than anyone else for the appointment of a special prosecutor and for keeping Plamegate going.

And it wasn't Bush or Ashcroft who cost Judith Miller her job. It was Pinch Sulzberger, Keller, Dowd, and the gang of leftists at the Times.

[FierceDraka]

Well, if our "American" journalists weren't mostly Gramscian Socialists who rip and tear at our society, our beliefs, and the war effort at every turn, maybe We The People might support their plight more than we currently do.

As long as they continue to do their best to tear us down as a nation, they can forget about the general public giving a damn when one of them is thrown in the hoosegow for not revealing a source.

Pesonally, I don't like seeing journalists imprisoned because of my belief in the correctness of the First Amendment. But my darker half can't help but sneer at them, "Suffer, you seditious, traitorous, enemy-loving filth!"