This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published at https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-day. The second was published at https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/sr/news/world-press-freedom-day-2021. The third was published at https://www.news18.com/news/lifestyle/world-press-freedom-day-2021-history-significance-and-theme-3701426.html. The fourth was published at https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/03/world-press-freedom-day-which-are-europe-s-lowest-ranked-countries-for-journalistic-freedo
This year's World Press freedom day theme, "information as a Public Good," serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing informaqtion as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind. The theme is of urgent relevance to all countries across the world. It recognizes the changing communications systems that is impacting on our health, our human rights, democracies and sustainable development. To underline the importance of information within our online media environment, World Press Freedom Day 2021 will highlight three key topics. 1) Steps to ensure the economic viability of news media. 2) Mechanisms for ensuring transparency of internet companies. 3) Enhanced media and Information Literacy capacities that enables people to recognize and value, as well as defend and demand, journalism as a vital part of information as a public good. World Press freedom Day was proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly in 1993, since then, 3 May, is celebrated worldwide. After 30 years, the historic connection made between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good remains as relevant as it was at the time of its signing. May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to: 1) celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom. 2) assess the state of press freedom throughout the world. 3) defend the media from attacks on their independencia. 4) pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The U.N. General Assembly proclaimed 3 May as Press Freedom Day in 1993 as a mean to celebrate the freedom of the press and to raise awareness of its importance in the world. The day is an occasion to evaluate the state of press freedom in the world, to make a stand for independent journalism and to commemorate the journalists who have lost their lives due to their commitment for a free press. The data goes back to a UNESCO conference in Namibia in 1991 that endedon 3 May with the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent, and Pluralistic Press. Thus, 2021 marks the 30-year anniversary of this declaration, which is as relevant as back then, especially in times of misinformation being spread about the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, World Press Freedom Day 2021 is celebrated under the theme "Information as a public good" and aims to raise awareness for the fact that more and more local news media around the world face extinction. This is only worsened by the current pandemic situation. Hailed as the fourth pillar of democracy, the press, its reporters, editors and photographers, have always risked their lives for the truth behind events. Such tasks require a degree of freedom which is guaranteed by the constitutions of democratic nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The day is celebrated to ensure the protection and safety of the press in the face of attacks 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. The theme for this year 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. The world of journalism faces "drastic losses", the U.N. has warned, as it highlights the importance of 'information as a public good' on World Press Freedom Day. The intergovernmental organisation says the current coronavirus crisis has forced closures and job cuts within the industry, while other media outlets are facing "political capture". The result is more "creeping news deserts" in countries where journalists are unable to get accurate information out to the public. In April, the journalism NGO Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) released its global index of press freedom, highlighting how the pandemic has given authoritarian regimes an excuse to crack down on journalism. To mark World Press Freedom Day, take a look at the state of press freedom in the 10 countries with the worst ranking in Europe. Belarus - a country that has been labelled 'the last dictatorship in Europe', Belarus is the worst ranked in the continent for press freedom. Many journalists faced arrest and detention for attempting to document the widespread protest movement against the regime of the only man to have held the presidency in the 26 years since the country's independence from the Soviet Union. The authorities also cut off access to the internet, from June 2020 to the present day, there are regular interruptions. The complete internet shutdown, including mobile internet, started on election day till on August 12. Belarusian Association of Journalists showed police deliberately used violence against reporters, with aim of gagging the media. Turkey - holding the record of being the world's biggest jailer of journalists as recently as last year, journalists continue to face crackdown on work critical of the government of Erdogan. RSF says the government has been eliminating opposition media. Russia - has cracked down further on freedom of the press amid not only the coronavirus pandemic, but also as part of its fight against Alexei Navalny. And more than 5,000 arrested across Russia as tens of thousands protest. Along with protesters being arrested, associates of Navalny, and opposition journalists have been detained by authorities. Meanwhile media fought for months to report on the COVID-19 pandemic and the government's response, which saw they acknowledging the death toll was three times the original figure.
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