Celebrate your freedom to read this article. May 3, World Press Freedom Day, underscores the vital role of press freedom in nurturing democracy, transparency, and human rights. It highlights that press freedom is not merely a privilege but an indispensable element in ensuring a well-informed and engaged society.
Whatever your likes and dislikes, journalists are out there gathering information to keep you informed. Press freedom gives you access to knowledge. You have access to whether you read about your favorite sports idol, international food, or local politics.
All over the world, journalists, reporters, and writers work to keep us all informed. The fact that you are reading this underscores your privilege to knowledge. In numerous places, the press is muzzled, depriving people of their freedom.
World Press Freedom Is Not Worldwide
According to The Pacific Legal Foundation, our founding father, Thomas Jefferson, said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” World Press Freedom Day is a worldwide call to be vigilant.
The suppression of press freedoms is on the rise across the globe. The dramatic increase in the number of people living in autocratic countries has reached 71% recently, significantly higher than just a decade ago. This concerning trend underscores the critical importance of supporting journalism that is free and independent.
The annual World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) highlights a significant intensification of political attacks on press freedom in the past year. These attacks include the detention of journalists, the suppression of independent media outlets, and the widespread dissemination of misinformation.
For example, as the Ukraine war continues, over 1500 journalists have fled Russia. Independent reporting is crushed. Neighboring Belarus persecutes journalists as “extremists.”
All over the world from Sudan to South America, journalists are harried, suppressed, and killed to keep people from knowing the truth.
And, environmental journalists suffer the same fate worldwide. The Guardian reports that forty-four journalists have lost their lives worldwide while reporting on nature in the past 15 years.
World Press Freedom Starts Here With Us
You can help make sure our press freedoms continue. Responsible journalism has five key aspects. You want to know what they are so you can evaluate every piece of news you read in print or online.
Review what you read or watch for these key elements to keep yourself from misinformation.
- Accuracy – precise, faithful, authentic, and correct information; no deceptive handling of the facts
- Independence – the journalist is free to cover a topic not representing any special interest
- Impartiality – facts presented as they are without bias, considering all aspects both negative and positive
- Humanity – awareness of how the reporting affects others to avoid harm
- Accountability – prepared to remedy errors
These are guidelines you can use to evaluate what you see on television, read in the paper, or discover online. If you feel any of these values have not been met, raise your voice to the publisher. Call attention to the error. You want to trust your news.
Remember, it’s these core values you should evaluate. It doesn’t make a difference if you disagree with the reporting. As long as the journalist stays true to the values they are doing their job.
Responsible journalism is one of our freedoms. Celebrate World Press Freedom Day.
About the Author
Zara Altair is a writer and author of historical mysteries set in 6th Century Italy. She is passionate about books, film, film history, and sharing her knowledge with others. Engage with Zara, her educational insights, and her tips for fellow writers by following her on X(Twitter) and Threads.