¿What part of the world has the least press freedom?

1. How accurate was your prediction?

2. How surprised are you by this information?

3. What is the big story that this map tells?

4. Is this good news?

5. Why do you think some areas are so free while others aren't?

6. Do you think of the US as having a high level of press freedom?

7. The United States ranks as the 41st most free country in the world. According to Reporters Without Borders, "US media freedom, enshrined in the First Amendment to the 1787 constitution, has encountered a major obstacle – the government’s war on whistleblowers who leak information about its surveillance activities, spying and foreign operations, especially those linked to counter-terrorism. Furthermore, US journalists are still not protected by a federal “shield law” guaranteeing their right not to reveal their sources and other confidential work-related information." Do you think the U.S. government should do more to promote our US press freedom?

8. In a recent poll, over half of Americans said that the US has, "too much press freedom." React to this statement in the comments section:

Learning Extension

Read the entire Reporters Without Borders 2016 World Press Freedom Report

Action Extension

One of the primary reasons that the US ranks low in press freedom is the surveillance of the press and citizens by the NSA. Contact your Congressional Representative and explain your opinion of US press freedom.