It’s World Press Freedom Day but Things are Getting Worse

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also marked the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by newspaper journalists in Namibia thirty-three years ago in 1991.

African journalist participants in the 1991 Windhoek  conference.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organizations, and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges. Each conference is centered on a theme related to press freedom, including good governance, media coverage of terrorism, impunity, and the role of media in post-conflict countries.

This year the conference begins today in Santiago, Chile.  A Press for the Planet: protecting journalists and scientists in defense of the environment is the theme this year.  

So how is it going on the press freedom front these days?  Well the needle on the dial hovers between not so good and terrible.  In fact the press, both traditional and emerging digital media, is under greater pressure in more nations than at any time since the Second World War.

According to the annual round-up compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF):

…the number of journalists killed worldwide in connection with their work—45 as of December 1, 2023—is the lowest since 2002, despite the wars in the Middle East.  In Gaza, at least 13 journalists have been killed because of their work as journalists since the war began between Israel and Hamas, a total that rises to 56 if we include all journalists killed in the Gaza Strip, whether or not in the line of their work. Worldwide, 521 journalists are currently detained on arbitrary grounds linked to their profession (down 8.4% from 2022).

But that 2023 dip may be illusional based on incomplete records especially in active war zones and heavily censored accounts by authoritarian regimes including Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

Just yesterday, May 1, the Pen America Freedom to Write Index reported that the number of writers jailed in China has surpassed 100, with nearly half imprisoned for online expression. With the total number of people imprisoned globally for exercising their freedom of expression estimated to be at least 339, China accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s jailed writers. There are 107 people behind bars because of their published statements in China, more than any other country on the index.

Meanwhile independent and dissident journalists are persecuted in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.  Israel suppresses virtually all independent Palestinian media, routinely detains and jails journalists and has targeted international reporters covering raids, destruction of Palestinian homes, and protests.   China stifles independent voices and shuts down web sites and social media.  

This map of rankings for press freedom was from 2017--Deep red very serious, orange serious, yellow notable problems, light blue satisfactory, dark blue good; Since then the U.S. has slipped to problematic.

In addition intimidation is a rising problem that deters many from freely reporting the news.  In 2020 Courtney Radsch, of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said anti-press rhetoric has become endemic in many countries especially the Philippines and the U.S.  Social media and the internet have added to the issues journalists face.  “Online harassment and its very real threats to journalists, especially women, has compounded the already challenging environment”, she said.

Don’t think America is immune.  During the Trump years press freedom here plummeted relative to Western democracies.  Death threats to American reporters and news organizations skyrocketed as Trump beat his fake news/enemy of the people drum and the far right wing and White nationalist forces listened.  Several news organizations were the victims of bomb scares,  Reporters were attacked and ruffed up at several rallies.  Republican state legislatures have enacted a variety of laws meant to either prevent coverage of protests, corruption, and vote suppression.  Reporters have been criminalized for photographing or filming factory farming and slaughter operations.  They have also been stripped of immunities for protecting sources as have whistle blowers.

Although the  Biden administration works to improve conditions on the Federal level, it will be a slow and arduous process.  Meanwhile police targeted journalists for physical attack—gassing, Tasering, shooting with rubber bullets, and beating reporters covering Black Lives Matter protests in several cities, notably  Minneapolis.

Largely due to the deteriorating situation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) downgraded the  ranking in its World Press Freedom Index yet again this year.

It’s a tough time for journalists, but they continue to do their jobs despite obstacles.

On World Press Freedom Day Things are Getting Worse

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also marked the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by newspaper journalists in Namibia thirty years ago in 1991.

African journalist participants in the 1991 Windhoek  conference.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culcitural Organization (UNESCO) also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organizations, and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges. Each conference is centered on a theme related to press freedom, including good governance, media coverage of terrorism, impunity, and the role of media in post-conflict countries.

This year the conference is being hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Namibia. April 29 through today back in Windhoek. The event is a physical and digital experience combining virtual and in-presence participation.  

The World Press Freedom Day theme is Information as a Public Good which “serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information 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 system that is impacting on our health, our human rights, democracies and sustainable development.”

To underline the importance of information within the online media environment, WPFD 2021 will highlight three key topics:

Steps to ensure the economic viability of news media

Mechanisms for ensuring transparency of Internet companies

Enhanced Media and Information Literacy (MIL) capacities that enable people to recognize and value, as well as defend and demand, journalism as a vital part of information as a public good.

So how is it going on the press freedom front these days?  Well the needle on the dial hovers between not so good and terrible.  In fact the press both traditional media and emerging digital media is under greater pressure in more nations than at any time since the Second World War.

A total of 50 journalists were killed worldwide in 2020, according to the second part of the annual round-up of abusive treatment and violence against journalists, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF.)  And that may not be comprehensive and doesn’t count dozens of the disappeared.  In the new year there have been spikes in Miramar where protests against the military coup that ousted the elected government have been on going.  Repression in nations of the former Soviet Union including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan  are also rising including assassinations conducted abroad.

Meanwhile independent and dissident journalists are persecuted in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.  Israel suppresses virtually all independent Palestinian media, routinely detains and jails journalists and has targeted international reporters covering raids, destruction of Palestinian homes, and protests.   China stifles independent voices and shuts down web sites and social media. 

In addition intimidation is a rising problem that deters many from freely reporting the news.  Courtney Radsch, of the CPJ said anti-press rhetoric has become endemic in many countries especially the Philippines and the U.S.  Social media and the internet have added to the issues journalists face.  “Online harassment and its very real threats to journalists, especially women, has compounded the already challenging environment”, she said.

Don’t think America is immune.  During the Trump years press freedom here plummeted relative to Western democracies.  Death threats to American reporters and news organizations skyrocketed as Trump beat his fake news/enemy of the people drum and the far right wing and White nationalist forces listened.  Several news organizations were the victims of bomb scares,  Reporters were attacked and ruffed up at several rallies.  Republican state legislatures have enacted a variety of laws meant to either prevent coverage of protests, corruption, and vote suppression.  Reporters have been criminalized for photographing or filming factory farming and slaughter operations.  They have also been stripped of immunities for protecting sources as have whistle blowers.

Police in Minneapolis arrest a CNN crew covering George Floyd protests.

Although the incoming Biden administration will work to improve conditions on the Federal level, it will be a slow and arduous process.  Meanwhile police have targeted journalists for physical attack—gassing, Tasering, shooting with rubber bullets, and beating reporters covering Black Lives Matter protests in several cities, notably  Minneapolis.

This map of rankings for press freedom was from 2017--Deep red very serious, orange serious, yellow notable problems, light blue satisfactory, dark blue good; Since then the U.S. has slipped to problematic.

Largely due to the deteriorating situation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) downgraded the  ranking in its World Press Freedom Index yet again this year.

It’s a tough time for journalists, but they continue to do their jobs despite obstacles.

  

World Press Freedom Day—Things are Getting Worse

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 World Press Freedom Day  to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in South Africa in 1991.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organizations, and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges. Each conference is centered on a theme related to press freedom, including good governance, media coverage of terrorism, impunity, and the role of media in post-conflict countries.

This year the conference will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—a country rated as having a difficult situation for press freedom.  The theme will be Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections In Times of Disinformation.  The United States will not be in attendance. It withdrew from the organization at the direction of the Trump administration in December of 1970 in protest to UNESCO criticism of the assaults, murders, and jailing of journalists by Israel.  It also repudiated over $600 million in back dues dating to 2011 when the Palestinian Authority was granted full membership in 2011.

So how is it going on the press freedom front these days?  Well the needle on the dial hovers between not so good and terrible.  In fact the press is under greater pressure in more nations than at any time since the Second World War.

At least 95 journalists were killed last year during the course of their work, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).  Nations where war is ongoing including Afghanistan (16), Syria (8), and Yemen dominate the list but Mexico where there is organized drug cartel violence claimed 11, and India where sectarian conflicts and revenge for reporting on rape lost 7 news people.  For the first time the U.S. ranked high on the list with 5 dead in 2018, all the victims of an attack on the Capital Gazette newspaper office in Maryland.

Death threats to American reporters and news organization have skyrocketed as Trump beats his fake news/enemy of the people drum and the far right wing and White nationalist forces listen.  Several news organizations were the victims of bomb scares, and a U.S. Coast Guard captain with a significant private arsenal was arrested before he could carry out armed attacks.

The International Federation of Journalists reports that increasing intolerance to reporting, populism, as well as corruption and crime are now important factors in journalistic contributing “to an environment in which there are more journalists killed for covering their communities, cities and countries, than for reporting in armed conflict zones”.

Among the most notorious killings of journalist in the last year was the torture/murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was slain by agents of the Saudi Crown Prince in that nation’s consulate in Turkey.  Another was journalist Lyra McKee who died on the streets of Londonderry, Northern Ireland reporting on sectarian street fighting. 

Aside from killing, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that about 250 journalists were imprisoned in December 2018.  The most repressive states were Turkey (68), China (47), Egypt (25), Saudi Arabia and Eritrea (16 each).

In addition intimidation is a rising problem that deters many from freely reporting the news.  Courtney Radsch, of the CPJ said anti-press rhetoric has become endemic in many countries especially the Philippines and the U.S.  Social media and the internet have added to the issues journalists face.  “Online harassment and its very real threats to journalists, especially women, has compounded the already challenging environment”, she said.

This map of rankings for press freedom was from 2017--Deep red very serious, orange serious, yellow notable problems, light blue satisfactory, dark blue good; Since then the U.S. has slipped to problematic.

Largely due to the deteriorating situation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) downgraded the ranking in its World Press Freedom Index this year from satisfactory to problematic.  

Of course things are still worse in other countries like Russia which have enacted sweeping new laws aimed at fake news—anything the government does not want reported—and banning criticism or disrespect of the government.  China has ramped up its strangle hold on the internet and has retaliated against foreign news agencies critical of the government.  A rising tide of right wing nationalism in Poland and elsewhere in Europe has led to tight media controls and often outright censorship.  Venezuela which was slipping into a civil war and is facing a coup d’etat as I write this has experienced both press suppression by the besieged socialist government and intimidation by supporters of the U.S. recognized winner of the last Presidential election.

It’s a tough time for journalists, but they continue to do their jobs despite obstacles.