Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The 3 May marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993. Three decades later, the fight for press freedom remains critical, with attacks on media freedom, journalists, and access to information on the rise globally.
This year’s theme is “Shaping a Future of Rights”, highlighting the importance of accurate and reliable information in the digital age.
However, this day also serves as a sobering reminder of the many challenges that journalists face around the world. According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 50 journalists were killed in 2020 alone, with many more being imprisoned, threatened, or harassed for simply doing their job.
On this occasion, MEP David Casa spoke out, stating: “On World Press Freedom Day, we have to acknowledge that journalists are constantly under threat. While we thank them for their work that is essential to our democracies, we cannot stop striving for their rights and the very ability to work safely. The hurdles they face are unacceptable. And I must remember those journalists who lost their liberty or their life just because they did their job to inform the public and to hold power to account.”
Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the challenges faced by journalists, with many governments using it as an excuse to crack down on press freedom and restrict access to information. In addition, the rise of online disinformation and fake news has made it more difficult than ever for journalists to provide accurate and reliable information to the public.
Despite these obstacles, journalists around the world continue to work tirelessly to uncover the truth and hold those in power accountable. They are essential to maintaining the integrity of our democracies and ensuring that the public remains well-informed.
EU perspective
Meanwhile, on the EU level, European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová and Vice-President for Internal Market Thierry Breton has presented the European Media Freedom Act, a landmark piece of legislation aiming to protect media and journalists from state influence and spying.
The Act will contribute to restoring the trust in the media and in fighting disinformation, including foreign interference, by:
- Protecting editorial independence – requiring EU Member States to respect the effective editorial freedom of media service providers and improve the protection of journalistic sources;
- requiring transparency on media ownership, the allocation of state advertising and audience measurement systems;
- Strengthening coordination of national media regulators by creating a new independent European Board for Media Services.
World Press Freedom Day 2023: History
World Press Freedom Day was first proclaimed by UNESCO in 1991 in response to the increasing number of attacks on journalists and media outlets around the world. In December 1993, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. On December 20, 1993, UNGA declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of press freedom principles put across by African journalists in 1991.
