World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is an annual celebration held on May 3, with the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization hosting the primary event (UNESCO).

It is a day for journalists to reflect on problems of press freedom and professional ethics, as well as a reminder to governments that they must continue to support a free press.

The United Nations General Assembly declared World Press Freedom Day in 1993, after the General Conference of UNESCO in 1991.

The historical link between freedom to seek, share, and receive knowledge and the common good is just as crucial today as it was 30 years ago. The World Press Freedom Day International Conference will hold special commemorations to mark the 30th anniversary.

World Press Freedom Day is an occasion to celebrate the ideals of a free press, review the situation of press freedom across the globe, defend the media against assaults on their independence, and honor journalists who have died in the line of duty.

Prizes on the day

On Press Freedom Day, the UNESCO awards people or groups who have made a major contribution to the defense and/or advancement of press freedom around the world, especially when faced with difficulty. An impartial 14-member council advises the award’s establishment. UNESCO member countries and regional and international non-governmental organizations that advocate press freedom submit their names to UNESCO for consideration.

Importance of the day

Constant access to information in a hyper-connected and digital society has the potential to improve levels of positive peace, but the quality of that knowledge is critical.

Access to the internet and knowledge has been increasing. According to figures from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), it has positively impacted the worldwide Positive Peace score, which has improved by 3.3 per cent since 2009.

We should always remember that access to information and the resources to utilize them are the most basic forms of freedom one can have.