The group's annual global index of media freedom released Wednesday found an overall rise in animosity toward reporters and a drop in freedoms, notably in former Soviet states but also in countries from the U.S. to the Philippines.
Comment: Note the failure to mention Israel, the most egregious recent example. Despite being clearly marked, the IDF recently shot six journalists during Gaza protests. Wonder how Reporters Without Borders missed that one.
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The group says many democratically elected leaders "no longer see the media as part of democracy's essential underpinning," singling out U.S. President Donald Trump for his media-bashing. It also notes the recent killings of reporters in EU members Slovakia and Malta.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said it was "ridiculous" to suggest that Trump or his administration has halted freedom of the press.
"I think we're one of the most accessible administrations that we've seen in decades," Sanders said Wednesday. "I think by my mere presence of standing up here and taking your questions, unvetted, is a pretty good example of freedom of the press and I think it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise."
The media watchdog says authoritarian regimes are trying to "export their vision" that media should be compliant.
It says hate speech targeting journalists is amplified on social networks by government-friendly trolls in India, Russia and elsewhere.
Comment: So this was simply a backhanded cheap-shot against Trump, more or less, despite the fact that the media have admitted Trump is 'not shy' about talking to press, and is more accessible than Obama. If they'd widen their search, Reporters Without Borders might actually find much of the hostility towards journalists is currently coming from mainstream media outlets and tech platforms.
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