On May 3 World Press Freedom Day is celebrateddecreed by the UN since 1993.
On this date, the state of press freedom worldwide is evaluated, the defense of attacks on the independence of the press and journalists is evaluated, and tribute is paid to those journalism professionals who have lost their lives in the exercise of their duties. work.
World Press Freedom Day 2024 Slogan
Every year a motto is established to celebrate this anniversary in favor of press freedom. The theme for 2024 is “Press for the planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis”, dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current environmental crisis around the world.
What is meant by freedom of the press?
Freedom of the press is the right that all media outlets have to investigate and keep society in general informed about the facts and events that happen on a daily basis, without being victims of censorship, harassment, harassment or any type of coercion during the exercise of their profession.
Freedom of the press enjoys a constitutional guarantee, through which, in a completely free and democratic way, people can come together to create autonomous media free of censorship.
The Windhoek Declaration
To commemorate this day, May 3 was chosen, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration.in which African media representatives participating in a seminar organized by UNESCO in the capital of Namibia in 1991, prepared a document that compiled the principles of press freedom.
This Declaration proposes the development of a free, independent and pluralistic press as an essential element for the development and maintenance of democracy in the nations of the world.
Likewise, it is clearly expressed that the concept of an independent press must be understood as an autonomous press, where the public powers have no participation or control, whether of an economic or political nature.
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
It is one of the most prestigious recognitions granted by UNESCO to people, organizations or institutions worldwide that have made a notable contribution to the defense and promotion of press freedom.
It was created in 1997, in honor of Guillermo Cano Isaza, Director of the Colombian newspaper El Espectador, murdered in 1986 by drug trafficking hitmen.
Annually, a qualifying jury made up of journalism professionals chooses a winner from among the proposals made by non-governmental organizations that work for press freedom and by UNESCO member states.
Filmography on press freedom
There are many films that have been brought to the big screen that deal with the issue of press freedom. Below we mention some of the most important and emblematic films:
- Citizen Kane (USA, 1941): Considered one of the most iconic films in cinema, it reflects a harsh criticism of the power of the press and everything it represents within society.
- All the President’s Men (USA, 1976): In this film, based on a true event, freedom of expression and the fight against political powers dominated by a world of corruption and anarchy are highlighted, where the truth must overcome censorship to achieve justice.
- The Dilemma (USA, 1999): An excellent film production, in which the interests of the tobacco industry to use toxic substances are revealed, which help create more addiction in people. This comes to light, thanks to the complaint made by one of its employees, being a major news item that reaches the most important news programs and media.
- Verónica Guerin (Ireland, 2003): It is a film based on real events, which tells the story of a journalist of Irish origin, who was murdered for investigating issues related to drugs in Ireland and for this, she had to pay a high price.
- Zodiac (USA, 2007): This film narrates the journalistic work of some investigators, to find the whereabouts of a serial killer nicknamed the “Zodiac Killer”who murdered a large number of people during the sixties and seventies in the city of San Francisco.
- Kill the Messenger (USA, 2014): Based on the true story of American journalist Gary Webb, who exposed the CIA’s connections with the world of drugs and drug trafficking in the country’s African-American neighborhoods.
- Spotlight: On the Front Page (USA, 2015): A team of reporters who made up the Spotlight column of The Boston Globe newspaper discovered in an investigation a large number of cases of pedophilia committed by priests in the state of Massachusetts, shaking the foundations of the Catholic Church.
- The Post: The Dark Secrets of the Pentagon (USA, 2017): In 1971, journalists from the Washington Post and The New York Times exposed to public opinion the concealment of information about the Vietnam War by the US government for more than 30 years.
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History of World Press Freedom Day slogans
2023: 30th Anniversary
In 2023 the 30th Anniversary of this event will be celebrated, and UNESCO organized a special event at the UN headquarters in New York, with a complete agenda of activities.
For this edition of World Press Freedom Day, everyone was invited to publish a single message: “Everything is going well”. Because if everything is good in the news, then something is wrong in journalism. And when something goes wrong in journalism, we cannot protect human rights.
2022: Journalism under digital siege
The motto for 2022 was “Journalism under digital siege”. He reflected on the impact of the digital age on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, access to information and privacy.
A global conference on the topic was held in Uruguay.
2021: Information as a common good
To commemorate this day, UNESCO annually issues a message or motto alluding to press freedom. For the year 2021 the central theme was called “Information as a common good”referring to the supreme importance of having truthful and reliable information.
It is necessary to confront disinformation, through the generation and dissemination of content with criteria of responsibility and transparency by journalism professionals.
For this, it is pertinent that the following aspects are met:
- Measures to guarantee the economic viability of the media.
- Mechanisms to guarantee the transparency of Internet service provider companies.
- Improving media and information literacy capabilities that allow public opinion to recognize, value and defend journalism as a common good.
2020: For brave and impartial journalism
In the year 2020 the motto of World Day of Press Freedom was called: “For brave and impartial journalism”in reference to the safety of journalists and impunity, the independence of journalism, and gender equality in the media.
The conference held annually on the occasion of the World Day of Press Freedom had to be postponed, due to the pandemic COVID-19thus ensuring the health and physical integrity of all those attending such a great event.
