U.S. press freedom climate edges closer to crisis amid turbulent presidential campaign
With the U.S. presidential campaign now in full swing − marked by a series of dramatic developments in recent weeks − press freedom discourse remains largely absent from American political debate. However, threats to journalism and the right to information loom large, with the U.S. press freedom climate poised for further deterioration. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) examines the most pressing dangers for journalism and calls on both parties to commit to protecting press freedom on the campaign trail and − if elected − in the presidency.
Before the 2024 presidential campaign reached fever pitch, the U.S. press freedom climate had already taken some dramatic turns of its own. Alarmingly, in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, released in May, the United States dropped 10 places to a staggering low of 55th out of 180 countries, bringing the country of the First Amendment into a worrying new category of the Index, no longer considered a “satisfactory situation” but a “problematic” one, color-coding the U.S. as orange on the accompanying map. This was influenced by a range of factors across several different indicators, including an unprecedented crisis of trust in American media, a turbulent economic climate, and safety concerns – with the U.S. now ranked 118th on the measure of the safety indicator.
At the same time, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker – a database of press freedom incidents in the United States, of which RSF is a founding partner - has documented a steady stream of violations against journalists. So far in 2024 alone, that has included 39 incidents of arrest or criminal charges, 55 incidents of assault, and 18 incidents of equipment damage, among other violations. Based on data from prior election years, further incidents can be expected in connection with journalists’ coverage of election-related events in the months ahead.
“Stakes are high in the U.S. elections, for American voters but also the global public, as around the world we will all be impacted by the words and actions of the next U.S. president. With journalism, and information itself under greater attack than ever before, it is crucial that the candidates from both parties commit to protecting press freedom at home and abroad. This must start on the campaign trail, where debate on these issues is inexcusably missing. RSF is committed to holding both parties to account, during the campaign and in office.
“You did this! This is your fault!”
Former President Trump – whose first term in office was catastrophic for domestic and global press freedom – made it clear early in this campaign that he retained a vendetta against “corrupt and dishonest media companies,” which he described as “a true threat to democracy” and again labeled “the enemy of the people” – a dangerous term favored by Joseph Stalin, which Trump had repeatedly used against media during his presidency. A few months later, Trump ominously stated that he wouldn’t abuse power and retaliate against opponents “except for Day 1.”
Fast-forward to his campaign rally on July 15 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Before any shots were fired, Trump had already set his sights on the journalists gathered at the back. He told the crowd: “I wish the fake news back there would show it because nobody would believe it.” This was par for the course, as Trump had reportedly become accustomed to denigrating reporters attending his rallies, simply doing their jobs.
After the gunfire that wounded Trump’s ear and killed a rally attendee who had been standing behind him, the crowd was quick to turn on the media. Online criticism was quickly unleashed against news organizations that proceeded with caution and adhered to factual reporting. On the spot, The Washington Post described a scene of anger and hostility, with the crowd extending middle fingers towards the press pen and shouting obscenities, as well as accusations of “You did this!” and “This is your fault!” – a worrying reminder of the anti-media tension bubbling just under the surface for many of Trump’s supporters.
When Trump formally accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18, in addition to his usual populist rhetoric, he made overtures towards the need for unity, stating “the discord and division in our society must be healed.” “We must not criminalize dissent or demonize political disagreement,” he went on to proffer – a far cry from his earlier campaign promises and years-long repeated refrains about “enemies of the people.”
Beyond his acrimonious comments towards journalists covering his rallies, and barring one NBC journalist from covering campaign events, on the campaign trail Trump has largely ignored issues related to press freedom, apart from his call for the release of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who has spent 16 months in arbitrary detention in Russia. During his CNN debate with Joe Biden, Trump pledged to get Gershkovich out of Russia “as soon as he wins the election.”
“Journalism is not a crime” is not enough
For its part, the possible impact of the Democratic ticket on U.S. press freedom is a more nuanced matter. Following President Biden’s announcement on July 21 that he was dropping out of the race, support has quickly grown for the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris, including from Biden himself. However, with the Democratic National Convention still weeks away – set to take place from August 19-22 in Chicago – ample time remains for more political twists and turns.
Throughout the Vice Presidency, Harris has not spoken directly on significant press freedom matters, so her record lies squarely with that of the Biden administration – which has largely talked the talk, but has not always walked the walk when it comes to actively protecting journalists. The phrase “journalism is not a crime” has become a platitude frequently uttered by Biden administration officials in addressing detentions of journalists in other countries, but often without sufficient efforts to secure releases – most recently evidenced in the sentencing by Russian courts of two American journalists, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, to lengthy prison sentences on July 19.
To its credit, the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) recently brought the longstanding case against WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange to a close by negotiating a plea deal that allowed for his release on June 25. Assange had been deprived of his liberty through different means for more than 13 years, including more than five years in the UK’s high-security Belmarsh prison after the Trump DOJ issued an indictment against Assange and actively pursued his extradition. Assange’s case had become a frequent diversion for authoritarian regimes, who would point a finger back at the United States any time the U.S. government raised other cases abroad. Assange’s long overdue release was an important step towards restoring the U.S.’ international reputation on press freedom.
On the domestic front, not enough has been done from the White House to ensure legal protections for journalists, to combat the spread of misinformation and protect information integrity, or to hold platforms to account.
It’s unclear what role Harris has played in these examples. But for her part, she has spoken more frequently on broader civil liberties, such as a speech in January in which she warned that American freedom “was under profound threat.” She went on to argue “They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, in an attempt to divide and distract our nation with unnecessary debates,” adding that rights under attack included “freedom from fear, violence and harm; freedom to vote, to live, to learn, to control one’s own body; and the freedom to simply be.”
A crucial need to protect press freedom
With just over three months left until the American electorate decides the country’s fate – and in turn, what version of the U.S. will influence the rest of the world – it is more crucial than ever that both parties recognize the crucial need to protect press freedom, both at home and abroad. It is time for these all-important issues to be included in the political debate and scrutinized by the voters whose futures will be most impacted.
Drawing on its nearly 40 years of global experience and more than a decade of its vibrant U.S. presence, RSF will be proposing a set of key advocacy measures to both campaigns in the weeks ahead, and seeking to secure commitments from both parties that they will respect journalism and protect press freedom in policy and in practice. RSF is committed to holding states everywhere to account – including both democracies and more authoritarian regimes. Whether governed by a Democratic or Republican president, the words and actions of the United States matter deeply to global journalism and press freedom.