Media-bashing by politicians a threat to democracies, RSF warns

PARIS: Western political leaders encouraging hostility towards the media are playing with fire and posing an increasing threat to democracies, Reporters Without Borders warned on Wednesday in its annual index of press freedom. Growing animosity towards journalists is no longer limited to authoritarian countries such as Turkey and Egypt, the Paris-based group said, citing the United States under President Donald Trump, which has fallen two places to 45th this year.