This list is by actual deaths during the year, not a prediction of future danger or government policies. The US is on the list this year because of a mass shooting at a newspaper.

The full PDF report is much more interesting than the article. https://rsf.org/sites/default/files/worldwilde_round-up.pdf

The report also notes that worldwide journalist deaths are down, and for the first time in 15 years, no journalist deaths in Iraq.