Press freedom index methodology: The report is partly based on a questionnaire[3] which asks questions about pluralism, media independence, environment and sel

Press freedom index methodology: The report is partly based on a questionnaire[3] which asks questions about pluralism, media independence, environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and infrastructure. The questionnaire takes account of the legal framework for the media (including penalties for press offences, the existence of a state monopoly for certain kinds of media and how the media are regulated) and the level of independence of the public media. --Presumably the evaluation 'downvotes' the independence and self-censorship of US media?