WASHINGTON, May 3, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Emily Wilkins, president of the National Press
Club, and Gil Klein, president of
the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the new ranking of
the United States in the 2024
World Press Freedom Index.
The report, released today by Reporters Without Borders, ranks
the U.S. 55th among nations on press freedoms. That's a drop of 10
places from its 2023 ranking.
"We are deeply alarmed by the weakening of the
press freedoms in the United
States. The downgrading of the U.S. to 55th among nations in
the 2024 World Press Freedom Index is a sad marker of the
deteriorating conditions for journalists and news organizations in
the U.S. as we enter a critical election season.
"The U.S. should be a beacon for press freedom
around the world. Instead, we have recently seen journalists in the
U.S. arrested and prosecuted simply for doing their jobs across the
country, and witnessed growing distrust fueled by the irresponsible
rhetoric of some political officials. The falling ranking of the
U.S. in the World Press Freedom Index shows that we are headed in
the wrong direction.
"The freedom of the press is among our core
democratic values. When we fail to live up our core values, it
weakens the fabric of our society and diminishes our standing on
the world stage."
"The United
States can and must do everything it can to regain its
standing as a model for press freedom worldwide. We call on
Congress to pass and President Joe
Biden to sign the bipartisan PRESS Act, which would prevent
the federal government from compelling journalists to reveal their
sources and confidential work product. We call for state
governments to pass similar shield laws. And we demand an end, in
all corners of the country, to the arrest and prosecution of
journalists who are simply trying to do their jobs. Journalism is
not a crime."
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the
world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club
has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization
and is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and
worldwide.
The National Press Club Journalism
Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through an
independent and free press and equips journalists with the skills
and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more
representative democracy. The NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of
the National Press Club.
Contact: Bill McCarren, press freedom consultant for
the National Press Club, wmccarren@press.org, (202)
662-7534
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SOURCE National Press Club