May 7: Press freedoms

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Top Story of the week

Reporting conditions for journalists are worsening in many places around the world under mounting political pressure from governments and other groups in a consequential election year, according to Reporters Without Borders and its 2024 press freedom ranking. RSF found that the environment for journalism is “satisfactory” in only a quarter of the 180 countries and territories included in its findings.

The annual World Press Freedom Index weighs five indicators to determine conditions for practicing journalism in each country. The political indicator, which evaluates pressure from the state and other political actors, fell the most in this year’s ranking, dropping an average of 7.6 points on a 100-point scale worldwide — “a worrying trend” amid widespread elections, RSF said. RSF noted that some political groups are stoking distrust of journalists through threats and insults, while others are “orchestrating a takeover” of the media ecosystems in their countries. The group’s findings also pointed out that political actors often push propaganda and disinformation campaigns.

Norway (1), Denmark (2) and Sweden (3) topped the index as countries with the best press freedoms, while Afghanistan (178), Syria (179) and Eritrea (180) — countries with plummeting political scores — ranked at the bottom. The United States (55) fell 10 spots, with RSF citing the decline of local news, mass layoffs across the industry and growing distrust of the media, among other factors.

Related:

• “Press Freedom Is Under Attack in Much of World, U.N. Ambassador Says” (Joseph De Avila, The Wall Street Journal).
• “Attacks on press freedom around the world are intensifying, index reveals” (Annie Kelly, The Guardian).

RumorGuard post of the week

NLP created RumorGuard to fact-check viral rumors and help you build news literacy skills. Sign up to push back against misinformation HERE.

Time magazine cover altered to depict Trump with devil horns

❌ NO: This is not a genuine Time magazine cover. 

✔️ YES: This image was digitally manipulated to make it appear as if former President Donald Trump was positioned on the cover so that the “M” would give him devil horns. 

✔️ YES: Time did feature Trump on the cover of its May 2024 issue, but his head was lower and not centered in front of the “M.” 

✔️ YES: Time magazine has previously acknowledged that the “M” in its name has given the coincidental appearance of a set of horns on numerous previous cover subjects, including Trump in 2016 when he was named Person of the Year.

NewsLit takeaway: Tracing an image back to its original source is an easy way to confirm or debunk the authenticity of viral social media content. In this case, comparing the viral image that includes devil horns with the official version of the Time cover found on the magazine’s social media feed and website shows it has clearly been altered.

Purveyors of misinformation effectively spread falsehoods by creating and spreading content designed to reinforce people’s preconceived beliefs. For those who think that Trump is unfairly treated by the media, for example, this doctored image likely felt true. And when people are misled by confirmation bias, it can result in those beliefs becoming stronger, even though they may be partially based on false content. Remember, when a social media post elicits a strong emotional reaction, it’s a good indication that it’s time to take a pause and check another source.

Kickers of the week

➕ Pro-Palestinian activists are flooding video comment sections on TikTok with keywords related to Gaza in a movement known as “Operation Watermelon,” though some have questioned whether their tactics are a form of online harassment. 

➕ Russia has shifted its focus to the Israel-Hamas war — and increasingly is making use of TikTok — in its ongoing efforts to spread disinformation in the U.S.

➕ Text-to-video tool Sora just reached a new first: a completely AI-generated music video from an indie pop artist that shuttles viewers through a couple’s life.

One last thing...

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