Map of the Day: World Press Freedom in 2013

Today’s map comes via Reporters sans Frontiers. It depicts freedom of the press worldwide.

Click here for larger image. White=Good; Black = terrible. What sticks out most to me is that the USA, despite its vaunted First Amendment is not as “free” as Canada, Scandinavia, New Zealand, Germany or even Namibia.

Why so?

The report cites a skewed media environment and says “…the United States rose 15 places to 32nd, recovering a ranking more appropriate to the ‘country of the First Amendment.’Its previous year’s fall was due to the fact that the crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street movement did not spare reporters in the field. ”

Malawi was the biggest winner, rising 75 places since last year thanks to the reversal of policies instituted by the late illiberal president who has since been replaced by the liberal minded Joyce Banda.

Here’s the full report.