Market Watch reported the U.S. dropped to spot 45 in this year's ranking of countries based on press freedom. The non-government, non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders conducted the survey.
The Shop Talk panelists share their thoughts on the report, which, among other things, said, “A media-bashing enthusiast, (President Donald) Trump has referred to reporters as ‘enemies of the people,’ the term once used by Joseph Stalin.”
Market Watch also noted Trump has attempted to block White House access to multiple media outlets, routinely uses the term “fake news” in retaliation for critical reporting, and has called for revoking certain media outlets’ broadcasting licenses.
Shop Talk is a weekly panel discussion about journalism issues. This week’s program featured Will Buss, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University and advises the student editors at the Western Courier, the students at student radio station The Dog, and the WIU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; Rajvee Subramanian, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University; and TSPR News Director Rich Egger.
