World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on May 3. The theme for this year is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.”
The day is celebrated to serve as a reminder of the importance of press freedom around the world and to acknowledge the problems that journalists face. The day also honors all journalists who have lost their lives.
World Press Freedom Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. This proclamation followed a recommendation made in 1991 during UNESCO’s twenty-sixth General Conference session. This year will celebrate the 31st year of World Press Freedom Day.
An African journalist initiated the World Press Freedom Day celebrations during a 1991 UNESCO session in Namibia. The United Nations General Assembly chose to celebrate it in December 1993, after the UNESCO General Conference’s recommendation. The primary goal of this day is to remind the government and the world of the importance of the press in a democracy. It also emphasizes the need of allowing the press to express itself freely.
One of the most important aspects of World Press Freedom Day is that it puts pressure on countries who attempt to restrict and undermine press freedom. It is a day to resist authoritarianism. The day also demonstrates how much we respect the public service performed by honest journalists who are dedicated to finding the truth. The day also commemorates and respects journalists who gave their lives to keep the public informed.
The day honors journalists’ efforts, promotes press freedom, emphasizes government duty for a supportive media environment, and safeguards media independence, all while encouraging public access to information and freedom of expression.