According to a 2009 international ranking by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) the United States saw an improvement in press freedom in the last year and the country climbed up to Number 20 in the group's Press Freedom Index. The media expert noted that the shift in the Washington approach was likely influenced by the expectations of the presidency by Barack Obama in January after eight years under President George W. Bush. Meantime, European countries lost their upper positions.
The group expressed concerns about US attitudes towards media in Iraq and Afghanistan where journalists had been injured or arrested by the US military.
"President Obama may have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but his country is still fighting two wars," the group said. "Despite a slight improvement, the attitude of the United States toward the media in Iraq and Afghanistan is worrying."
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