How many people even know that World Press Freedom Day exists?
A day celebrating “freedom of the press”.
History
In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day. This declaration came after a recommendation made in 1991 at a General Conference session of UNESCO. The declaration also came as a result of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration; a statement which was produced by African journalists about press freedom, presented at a seminar held by UNESCO, which concluded on May 3.
The day is celebrated to ensure the protection and safety of the press in the face of attacks against its independence, to discuss journalistic ethics and to celebrate journalists who gave their lives in the pursuit of truth. There are ten nations – China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Eritrea, Djibouti, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran and Cuba – where press freedom is severely limited. World Press Day remind us that many publications and their editors and reporters are often prevented from doing their jobs, censored and banned. Many get imprisoned or killed even.
The theme for World Press Day 2021 is “Information as a Public Good.” It is especially significant for the press, which deals with information on a global scale, to effectively use and disseminate it to the world citizenry while empowering journalists.
Freedom –
With freedom comes challenges. Does Journalism have the freedom to publish misinformation, to manipulate beliefs and attitudes? Should news outlets be promoting hate, peddling racism? Does free press allow ideas that encourage division and incite violence? Journalists play a crucial role in providing information. By definition, they should gather the information and report the news, nothing more.
It is condescending to constantly tell people ‘we have to tell you how to interpret this story.’
Freedom goes both ways…
If you visit a news television channel, a news website, a radio or podcast or purchase a newspaper, you are the consumer.
“The freedom to be informed without being influenced is your right as the consumer.” News Without Politics.
Journalists are supposed to gather information and report the news.
The freedom to interpret that information should be your prerogative.
News organizations have one very powerful commonality; the capacity to prioritize. The public has become comfortable in the assurance that the media has their priorities perfectly in order. That is an enormous responsibility that must be managed with the utmost integrity. Read more from News Without Politics
