Canada falls in free-press rankings

Canada has slipped in an index ranking freedom of the media, in part because of police spying on journalists and demanding reporters turn over their notes. The four-place decline to the 22nd spot overall leaves Canada out of the top 20 countries in terms of media freedom, Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday.

1 ‘ SERIES OF SCANDALS’ MARKS VULNERABILITY

In announcing its 2017 World Press Freedom Index, RSF said Canada went through a “series of scandals” last year that highlighted the fragility of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources. They include Quebec provincial police spying on at least six journalists and seizing a reporter’s computer and the arrest of a reporter covering a protest against the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador.

2 U. S. RANKING DROPS TWO SPOTS TO 43RD

The United States, too, has seen an “alarming” decline in press freedom, with the states slipping two places to 43rd overall, said Delphine Halgand, RSF’s North America director. “What we are seeing is that journalists’ sources are increasingly under threat, reporters are now facing jail time for covering protests, and verbal attacks meant to undermine the work of journalists are coming from some of the highest positions in government,” Halgand said.

3 ‘ WE HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF POST-TRUTH’

Overall, the 2017 index reflects a world in which attacks on media have become commonplace, RSF said. “We have reached the age of post-truth, propaganda and suppression of freedoms — especially in democracies,” the report states.

4 AMERICAN, BRITISH ‘ TOXIC’ CULTURES CITED

The report takes aim at the United States and Britain for the “highly toxic” media bashing that occurred during Donald Trump’s rise to the U.S. presidency and the U.K. Brexit campaign. “The hate speech used by the new boss in the White House and his accusations of lying also helped to disinhibit attacks on the media almost everywhere in the world, including in democratic countries.”

5 NORWAY FINISHED FIRST, NORTH KOREA LAST

The index ranks a country’s press freedom on the diversity of opinions tolerated, independence of media, the legal environment, and abuses or violence directed at journalists. Norway topped the 2017 index, while North Korea was last.