The U.S. is now number 48th on the World Press Freedom Index, dropping 3 points and with a total abuse score of 63.01. This list is compiled and maintained by the journalists themselves. This is one of most damning, most terrifying facts in a long list of failures and crimes.
Source: https://rsf.org/en/ranking_table
Freedom of expression and information will always be the world’s most important freedom. If journalists were not free to report the facts, denounce abuses, and alert the public, how would we resist the problem of children-soldiers, defend women’s rights, or preserve our environment?
In some countries, torturers stop their atrocious deeds as soon as they are mentioned in the media. In others, corrupt politicians abandon their illegal habits when investigative journalists publish compromising details about their activities.
Still elsewhere, massacres are prevented when the international media focuses its attention and cameras on events.
Source: https://rsf.org/en/presentation