PEN Norway Concerns Over Threats to Press Freedom During the U.S. Election
Today, November 5, 2024, Americans head to the polls. Norwegian PEN is deeply concerned about the state of press freedom and the safety of journalists during and following this election.
In recent years, press freedom in the United States has taken a negative turn. In 2024, the country fell 10 places in Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Press Freedom Index—a historic drop from 45th to 55th place. This decline reflects eroding trust in the media and a rising trend of threats and violence directed at journalists.
Throughout the election campaign, journalists and media outlets have increasingly become targets. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), during the past two months alone, former American President and the Republican candidate Donald Trump has verbally attacked journalists and media over 100 times and has repeatedly labeled various media organizations as “fake news.”
PEN Norway calls on all political parties in the United States to uphold and promote press freedom, protect journalists’ rights, and ensure that democratic values prevail both during and after the election.
