The purpose of World Press Freedom Day is to raise awareness of the value of press freedom globally.
Press Freedom Day is observed globally on May 3rd each year. The purpose of the celebration is to draw attention to the importance of press freedom on a global scale and to acknowledge the difficulties faced by journalists. The day honours those journalists who have lost their life as well. The United Nations General Assembly initially established World Press Freedom Day in 1993. This announcement followed a suggestion made in 1991 during UNESCO’s 26th General Conference session. This year will be World Press Freedom Day’s 31st anniversary.
World Press Freedom Day: An Overview
An African journalist launched the idea for World Press Freedom Day during a UNESCO session in Namibia in 1991. On the advice of the UNESCO General Conference, the United Nations General Assembly chose to commemorate it in December 1993. This day serves primarily as a reminder to the global community and the government of the value of the press in democracies. It also emphasises how important press freedom is for their own expression.
Theme for World Press Freedom Day in 2024
The day is commemorated annually with a theme that emphasises the value of press freedom.World Press Freedom Day will have “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis” as its topic in 2024.
2024’s Press Freedom Day: Importance
Press Freedom Day means the following:
Honouring press freedom provides a worldwide forum for recognising the vital role that an independent and free press plays in a robust democracy.Assessing press freedom globally: Today serves as a reminder to evaluate press freedom conditions in various nations and identify areas in need of improvement.Defending media from attacks: It highlights how crucial it is to shield reporters from assault, threats, and other forms of intimidation that they frequently encounter when seeking the truth.Press Freedom Day honours the memory of journalists who, while carrying out their duties, lost their lives in a sad accident while defending the principles of accountability and truth.
Day of Press Freedom 2024: A Look BackIn 1993
The United Nations General Assembly instituted Press Freedom Day, which is commonly referred to as World Press Freedom Day. This came about as a result of a 1991 UNESCO General Conference suggestion. The date, May 3, was selected to honour the 1991 Windhoek, Namibia, declaration on the promotion of an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. In this statement, the significance of a free, independent, and pluralistic press was underlined as a necessary element of democracy and progress.