THOMAS ORITI: Almost a week into Donald Trump's presidency, fresh concerns are being raised about the freedom of the press in the United States and beyond.

Mr Trump's Chief of Staff has accused the press of trying to de-legitimise America's new leader, but the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says attacks on the press set a dangerous precedent.

The CPJ has been outspoken about what it says are the challenges facing journalists, saying reporters are being personally attacked and the Trump administration is already lacking in its transparency.

For more I spoke to Carlos Lauria, who's the program director for the committee, based in New York City.

CARLOS LAURIA: We remain really concerned. The President himself set the tone in his first press conference. You've seen the same rhetoric, aggressive rhetoric, singling out reporters.

He's singled out a reporter from CNN after a question he didn't like, calling him out and saying that he represented "fake news". And today, in another demonstration - a reflection of the tone set by President Trump during the campaign - one of his advisors, one of his senior advisors, said that the press was, you know, an "opposition party" and they should be shut out.

THOMAS ORITI: Of course, you're not just talking about the domestic consequences in the United States, but around the world. So what are the potential ramifications globally if the press is under this sort of pressure?

CARLOS LAURIA: You know, these actions in the United States, we have said before, set a very bad example for the rest of the world, where governments regularly justify intervention in the media by citing national security issues, for example and especially where vilifying the press.

When public figures vilify the press, this creates a very divisive and polarised environment, where journalists and media are left wide open to attacks.

So we remain concerned about this situation and about this routine single out of journalists, mock of journalists, and, you know, the fact that they have been attacked and are continuing to be attacked by name. It's contributing to a threatening climate for journalists in the United States.

THOMAS ORITI: And if that climate for journalists is deteriorating, do you think that that'll actually change how media outlets cover the Trump administration? Are journalists likely to be intimidated?

CARLOS LAURIA: Well, that's one of the dangers. I think that what we have seen so far this week is that journalists are, you know, doing a good job in terms of aggressively covering the administration.

But you know, the danger is that this routine lash-out at the media may create a chilling effect, and we are worried about that.

THOMAS ORITI: What sort of power does the US President have to actually restrict press freedom?

CARLOS LAURIA: Well, as you know, the journalists in the US enjoy more protections than many of their colleagues around the world. I mean, it has strong constitutional guarantees enshrined in the First Amendment. There's a robust and vibrant media environment. The media is well set.

But obviously they are now facing a very unprecedented challenge. And what we have said before and we say in this first week is that, you know, the challenges that journalists are facing here are really unprecedented and we are paying very close attention to it.

THOMAS ORITI: Could the President actually change laws to make it easier to sue news organisations?

CARLOS LAURIA: That would be difficult. That would be difficult. I mean, he would have to change jurisdiction from the Supreme Court. That's really not likely to happen.

One of the things that we are seeing as a potential problem is the prosecution of, you know, of whistleblowers and the leaks investigations. And, you know, we are worried that leak investigations could pose a potential problem for the confidential sources and create some kind of chilling effect.

THOMAS ORITI: And what about terms like "alternative facts" and "fake news"? What impact could terms like that have on the fundamentals of press freedom?

CARLOS LAURIA: You know, that's rhetoric. I think I'm not sure if that will have an impact. I mean, that will be fought with vigour, with responsible coverage. And many, many journalists and news outlets are doing a great job and will continue to do it.

THOMAS ORITI: That's Carlos Lauria, the program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York City.