THE BUZZ: Russia, US, Europe lose ground in media watchdog’s report

Reporters Without Borders says Russia, the United States, Japan and many parts of Europe lost ground last year in its ranking of global press freedoms.
War, the rise of non-state groups, crackdowns on demonstrations and economic crises provided a backdrop for a tough 2014. The Paris-based media watchdog said two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed in its annual World Press Freedom index scored worse than a year earlier.
Western Europe, while top-ranked, lost the most ground as a region. Three Nordic countries headed the list, but there was slippage in Italy — where mafia and other threats weighed on journalists — and Iceland, where the relationship between the media and politicians soured, the group said.
China, Iran and North Korea all remained among the 10 lowest-ranked countries.