Catherine Taibi

When the European Union's so called "right to be forgotten" policy was instituted in May, news outlets worried that the ruling could have a negative impact on the media.

But according to journalism.co.uk, some publishers are finding the opposite. Some outlets, like the Oxford Mail, expressed concerns that the ruling might be "misused" by criminals and public figures like celebrities and politicians who "want to hide embarrassing stuff."

The Mail saw the link to its story about a man caught shoplifting removed from Google in July. In response, the website published what happened, republished information about the shoplifter, and attracted tens of thousands of new, curious readers.

The House has approved an amendment that could prevent journalists from being forced to reveal their sources. Rep Alan Grayson (D-FL) introduced legislation that would prohibit the Department of Justice from being able to use funds to force reporters into revealing confidential sources or information.

Rep Grayson's amendment was added to the "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act" and would open the doors for the first Federal shield law in the United States. The room erupted with applause when the legislation was passed with a 225-183 vote. Rep Grayson told the room that it is "completely incongruous" to claim that the US has freedom of the press while threatening to place journalists in jail over sources. He said that such an amendment is long overdue and demanded that a vote take place that night.

In anticipation of World Press Freedom Day, a new poll by Gallup found that people around the world think their media is becoming less free. Out of adults polled from 132 countries, a median of 26 percent of people said they did not have media freedom in 2013.

A median of only 63 percent said that they felt a lot of freedom, representing a new low since 2010.

Of the countries polled, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Gabon and Syria had the lowest perceived media freedom, respectively, according to their residents. 69 percent of adults polled in the Congo said that the media is not free -- a 21 percent change since 2010. Syria, the fourth most unfree nation on the list, was the deadliest place for journalists in 2013 for the second year in a row, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. At least 70 journalists were killed in 2013 worldwide, 29 of whom died covering the crisis in Syria.

On the opposite end, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany had the highest perceived media freedom, with 95 percent of residents in the Netherlands reporting strong media freedom. 85 percent of Americans reported feeling free, while 14 percent said they did not.

Here's an alarming fact for you: the number of working journalists in the United States dropped by nearly 20,000 in just six years, according to the Pew Research Center.

The decline of print media, as well as a host of other factors, has led to a tidal wave of job losses, Pew said. There were 55,000 journalists working in 2006; there were just 38,000 in 2012. That is a loss of 17,000 journalists.

Pew said that, along with the battering print has taken, the decline could be traced to the decisions by news organizations to devote more money and staff to digital advertising, social media and Web-friendly content.

Participants at the BBC's Safety of Journalists Synopsium issued a joint statement calling for the protection of journalists, the BBC reported.

“We have gathered to protest at the increasing attacks on journalism around the world and the damage to free speech that can result from the rise in violence and intimidation against the media," the statement read. At least 70 journalists were killed worldwide in 2013, and 547 have been killed between January 2007 to 2014, according to the statement.

The supporters of the statement ultimately protested the censorship of journalists and fought for "establishing a safe and enabling environment for journalism." The statement called specific attention to Anja Niedringhaus, the Associated Press photographer who was shot dead in Afghanistan while covering the upcoming presidential election. It then pointed to Al Jazeera journalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who have been detained in Egypt since December as a result of their coverage and alleged collaboration with the outlawed Muslin Brotherhood. Finally, the statement drew attention to the hundreds of journalists who have been killed within the last seven or so years, particularly the more than 90 journalists killed covering the three-year-old conflict in Syria.

A major step has been taken towards the protection of journalists. A resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council now acknowledges “the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests.”

Reporters Without Borders announced that it "recognizes and endorses" the duties of journalists covering protests and demonstrations and denounces any attacks against the journalists as they fulfill these duties.

There was a "a dramatic increase in violence and intimidation in 2013," Reporters Without Borders head of research and advocacy Lucie Morillon said. The resolution, submitted by Turkey, Costa Rica and Switzerland, stresses the important role that journalists play at demonstrations in providing people with coverage, essential information and "documenting human rights violations or abuses committed in the context of peaceful protests.”

The resolution urges states to pay close attention to journalists' safety and vulnerability while covering peaceful protests, and to ensure that the resolution is effective immediately.

Fox News channel’s Megyn Kelly called the Obama Administration "crazy" for a new proposal that would allow researchers to investigate newsrooms nationwide.

The Federal Communications Commission's proposal aims to investigate how stories are chosen and if coverage is subject to editorial bias, but some see that as a violation of press freedom that could be detrimental to journalists. "What kind of crazy talk is that!?" Kelly said of the proposal. "Whose brain-child was this in the first place?" Kelly seemed to find it ridiculous, even laughing at one point, that the government would try to advise news outlets about "what the people need to hear." She said it gives people "a window" into what the Obama Administration is really thinking.