For the first time ever, the U.S. was just downgraded to the status of “backsliding democracy.”

Friend,

Last year, for the first time ever, the U.S. was downgraded to the status of "backsliding democracy" by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

One of the key factors contributing to the decline?

According to the institute's report, they have noticed diminishing "media integrity," as more and more outlets peddle disinformation and an increasing "consolidation in news media ownership [which] placed power over editorial decisions in relatively fewer hands."

Worldwide, we know that the free press is under assault. Today, a handful of internet giants like Google and Facebook control a huge portion of the traffic to news outlets like Common Dreams . . . and their algorithms are increasingly choking off the readers who are the lifeblood of our daily news operation.

The truth is that it’s never been more difficult to survive as an online publication than it is today, and the pandemic has hit us—like so many others—especially hard.

But we must forge on. As legendary journalist Bill Moyers said in response to the report, "if we don’t realize just what the stakes are, the United States we all imagine and the one we love, because we think it promises equality, will be over."

We need you now more than ever. If you believe in the power of independent media to help safeguard democracy and the common good, please support Common Dreams now.