新聞自由團體呼籲關注美國媒體面臨的威脅
With the observation of World Press Freedom Day on Thursday, a group of press freedom organizations is calling attention to challenges faced by journalists in the United States.
The report cites a number of threats to the work of journalists, including a rise in whistleblower prosecutions, government restrictions on public information, stigmatization by politicians, physical attacks and arbitrary arrests.
"The alarming rise in threats to press freedom in the U.S. over recent years must be challenged," said Thomas Hughes, executive director of Article 19. "Not only do these threats impact on freedom of expression in the U.S., but they have repercussions around the world."
Article 19 joined with the Committee to Protect Journalists, International Freedom of Expression Exchange, International Press Institute, Index on Censorship and Reporters Without Borders to interview U.S. journalists.
Their report said despite current threats, protections in the U.S. Constitution make media in the United States among the most free in the world. But it noted instances of President Donald Trump's statements, most notably his rejection of what he calls "fake news," being echoed by leaders in other countries, including Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The report notes a rise in whistleblower prosecutions began under former President Barack Obama, and expresses concern about the Trump administration's positions on reporters' abilities to protect their sources. It also faults Trump for verbal attacks on the media, saying those have helped embolden other politicians to do the same.
Reporters Without Borders cited those concerns in its own annual press freedom rankings last week as it dropped the United States down two spots.
The White House rejected criticisms, with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders telling reporters she thinks the Trump administration is "one of the most accessible" in decades.這個星期四是世界新聞自由日。一些倡導新聞自由的組織呼籲關注美國媒體工作者面臨的挑戰。
一份報告列舉了媒體工作者面臨的威脅，包括更多的舉報人被起訴、政府限制公共信息、被政界人士蒙污、受人身攻擊、以及被任意逮捕。
“憲法第19條”的執行總監休斯說：“必須挑戰美國近年來新聞自由受到越來越多威脅的現象。這些威脅不僅影響美國的言論自由，而且在全世界都有連鎖反應。”
“憲法第19條”組織與保護記者委員會、國際言論自由交流會、國際新聞研究所、審查指數以及記者無國界一道和一些美國記者進行了談話。
他們的報告說，儘管有當前的威脅，但是美國憲法的保護使得美國媒體位於全世界最自由的媒體之列。不過報告還說，川普總統的言辭，特別是他聲稱反對的“假新聞”，引起世界其它國家領導人的共鳴，包括委內瑞拉總統馬杜羅、敘利亞總統阿薩德以及緬甸實際上的領導人昂山素季。
報告說，在前美國總統奧巴馬執政期間就有越來越多的舉報人被起訴。這份報告還對川普行政當局針對記者保護消息來源的立場表示擔心。報告批評川普總統對媒體發出的口頭抨擊，還說這種做法鼓勵了其他政界人士予以效仿。
記者無國界組織在它上星期公佈的新聞自由年度排名報告裏把美國的排名降低了兩個名次。
白宮對有關批評提出反駁。白宮新聞祕書桑德斯對記者說，她認爲川普行政當局是數十年來最開放的美國政府。
