Reporters without border just released their 2006 annual worldwide press freedom.

Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Netherlands share the first place, and Canada is ranked 16.

The sad thing about the index is the United-States, ranked 53rd, ex-aequo with Botswana, Croatia and Tonga.

17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his “war on terrorism.” The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognise the media’s right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism.

Freelance journalist and blogger Josh Wolf was imprisoned when he refused to hand over his video archives. Sudanese cameraman Sami al-Haj, who works for the pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera, has been held without trial since June 2002 at the US military base at Guantanamo, and Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been held by US authorities in Iraq since April this year.

This 53rd position surprised a lot of people at Sportsshooter, where most of the members are Americans.

However, two comments tend to go along with what Reporters without border think.

Joe Cavaretta

Sunday I photographed Venezuelans voting in thier presidential elections at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Stopped off at the media table on the way in, got a sticker, and was allowed to shoot whomever and whatever I wanted. It was a hot day and the consul provided bottled water for everyone in line and for the media also. The consul general was at the front of the line greeting everyone who came to vote, even though most of the ex-patriots who live here were voting against the Chavez government he represents.

On Nov. 7th, here in Broward County, I tried to photograph the mid-term elections. Here in Florida it is now a state crime to get closer than 500 feet to a polling place, and as soon as you get out of you car with cameras around your neck, a gaggle of zealous poll workers is there to greet you to make sure you are aware of the regulation.

Fredrik Naumann, a photographer from Norway:

I am not very surprised. I'd be more concerned about going to the US to photograph, than most other countries. Particularly since 9/11. Having read the numerous accounts of photographers being detained and questioned, harassed and/or generally feeling uncomfortable for simply photographing in public places. Permits and releases and whatnot, and if some security nut don't get you, a lawyer may sue your pants off. It actually costs me double for a liabilty insurance covering the world, if I want to include the US too.
For the record: I have lived a year in the US and visited quite a few times, as well as some 50+ other countries, so I am not entirely basing my concern on second hand information...