The United States ranks 48th among nations for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders (RWB). Since few other countries have the equivalent of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, learning that it ranks below Botswana and Slovenia may come as a surprise.
Mostly the organization pins this dismal state of affairs on U.S. President Donald Trump's attacks on the news media. They reference the White House's revocation of CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press card, the president's "fake news" and "enemy of the people" jibes and his tacit approval of the grisly murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi government.
"At least one White House correspondent has hired private security for fear of their life after receiving death threats, and newsrooms throughout the country have been plagued by bomb threats and were the recipients of other potentially dangerous packages, prompting journalism organizations to reconsider the security of their staffs in a uniquely hostile environment," reports RWB.