Report: American Press Freedom Declines Due to Occupy Arrests

The United States has dropped 27 spots in Reporters Without Borders 10th annual World Press Freedom Index, now ranking at 47th in the world for press freedom.

The report claims that the drop is due in part to reporters being arrested at Occupy protests this year. The report noted that within the course of two months, more than 25 journalists "were subject to arrests and beatings at the hands of police at the hands of police..."

Past stories on the Reporters Without Borders website documented arrests made in New York City; Nashville; Milwaukee; Oakland, Calif.; and Orlando, Fla.

The index is compiled via responses to a questionnaire distributed to 150 correspondents and various journalists, legal experts and human rights activists.

Finland and Norway tied for first in the index; Canada (ranked 10th) is the highest ranking North American country.