'Reporting the wounds of humanity' World Press Freedom Day

For many years, the local Amnesty International Group used to run a greetings card stall in Harlow, where we invited passers by to send a greeting card to a prisoner of conscience or someone whose human rights were being abused. We always invited the local MP to come along and after wrote an article about the event for the local paper. One year someone berated us for inviting the MP to the stall as they disagreed with the MP's views and voting record. The gentleman subsequently followed our article up with a vitriolic letter in the same local paper. I replied saying that all were welcome to express their views and to be treated with respect whatever hue their politics for keeping lines of communication open is the best way forward where there is disagreement. I was glad that the newspaper printed all views as a thriving local newspaper that is not afraid to speak out is a great blessing for an area.

I thought of this incident when I read that Tuesday, 3rd May, is World Press Freedom Day. The theme for this year's day is: "Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights." This is the 30th year the day has been celebrated.

The Day serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Four fundamental freedoms are outlined in the Preamble of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights: freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. It is not incidental that freedom of speech comes first: this fundamental freedom is one that enables all others.

The Economic Times of India writes: 'The celebration of World Press Freedom Day is significant because it reminds people of the crucial role of the media in a democratic society. It highlights the need to protect journalists and their sources from censorship, intimidation, and violence. It also serves as a call to action for governments and organizations to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression, as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.'

The 20th World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders reveals an increase in polarisation amplified by information chaos. Media polarisation is fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level. The 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories, highlights the disastrous effects of news and information chaos - the effects of a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.

As well as being given a global score, the World Press Freedom index assesses and ranks 180 countries for,' Political context, economic context, legal framework, sociocultural context and safety'. Exploration of the results in relation to the UK makes salutary reading!

In January 2023 a Guardian article reported that: 'The index ranks the UK within the third tier of the index on freedom of expression due to what is described as the 'chilling effect' of government policies, policing and intimidation of journalists in the legal system.' (Guardian 25 January 2023 - https://bit.ly/411Mhv4 Global index CEO, Anderson )

The index describes that the UK has a low score because of 'Worrisome governmental legislative proposals, extensive restrictions on freedom of information, the prolonged detention of Julian Assange, and threats to the safety of journalists in Northern Ireland have impacted the UK's press freedom record.'

Global Voices has said that worldwide 'Journalists and others working in the media sphere have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years as they were increasingly oppressed, arrested, silenced, threatened, and more - these challenges can have a chilling effect on media and allow authoritarian governments to thrive."

UNESCO's Observatory of Killed Journalists monitors the killing of journalists and media workers across the globe. In the 30 years since the first World Press Day 1592 journalists have been killed, while this year 12 journalists have been killed. Many more have suffered life changing injuries.

But Global Voices reports 'Signs of hope'. There are still hundreds of thousands of journalists persevering in reporting the truth and working to make changes in their communities. And in some cases, they are succeeding, even in the face of government pressure. One instance is Fiji, where journalists successfully forced the government to roll back a draconian media law. In Côte d'Ivoire, environmental journalists have successfully made headway in reporting on environmental exploitation,, prompting the government to implement new protective measures

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, 2022 Pope Francis paid homage to journalists, "I pay homage to journalists who pay with their lives to serve [the right to press freedom]," said the pontiff at the end of his 'Regina Coeli' address in Saint Peter's Square. '"Special thanks go to those who courageously inform us of the wounds of humanity," said the Pope.

On Good Friday we ask God to 'deliver your world from falsehood, hunger, and disease.'. This would be an appropriate prayer for World Press Freedom Day, but perhaps Pope Francis' tweet and call to prayer on World Press Freedom Day 2022 says it better:

On this World #PressFreedom Day, let us #PrayTogether for the journalists who pay in person, with their lives or imprisonment, to serve this right. Special thanks to those who courageously inform us of the wounds of humanity.

And I would add special thanks to Independent Catholic News who every day inform us of the news in the Catholic world.

LINKS

UNESCO World Press Freedom Day: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384177
Global Voices: World Press Freedom Day: https://bit.ly/44mul0X
Reporters without borders index: https://rsf.org/en/index/score-leg?year=2022

Editor's Note: Let's not forget next week is also the first anniversary of the killing of the Catholic journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli Army in Jenin refugee camp. See Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem statement on death of Shireen Abu Akleh: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/44667