P. A. Chacko S. J.
“In a world plagued by conflict and division, World Press Freedom Day highlights a fundamental truth: Freedom for people depends on freedom of the press.” (U. N. Secretary- General).
The words of the UN Secretary General are an important truth. However, journalists and news reporters are more and more coming under the heavy censure of autocratic rulers and fanatical governments.
When the press acts as a mirror to society, the rulers and the ruling class do not want their ugly faces and dirty backyards to be seen in public. They play their tactics of intimidation, suppression, oppression, censorship and elimination of the press personnel. The survivors are the crawlers who have justifiably earned the epithet ‘godi media’.
According to the UNESCO report, “82 journalists lost their lives just for doing their job.” On this Press Freedom Day, with UNESCO and with all freedom-loving people, we honour these journalists and all those who have come and are coming under the hammer blow of the Big Brother.
Freedom of the Press means freedom of the right to information which is a fundamental right. It is an essential service for public good.
Freedom and independent journalism are an essential public good. “It’s the accountability, justice, equality and human rights’, says the UN General.”
Here we reproduce the message of the UN Secretary-General.
N.ew York, 3 May 2025
“In a world plagued by conflict and division, World Press Freedom Day highlights a fundamental truth:
Freedom for people depends on freedom of the press.
Freedom and independent journalism is an essential public good.
It’s the backbone of accountability, justice, equality and human rights.
Journalists everywhere must be able to report freely and without fear or favour.
When journalists are unable to work, we all lose.
Tragically, this is becoming more difficult every year.
And more dangerous.
Journalists face attacks, detentions, censorship, intimidation, violence and even death — simply for doing their jobs.
We are seeing a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed in conflict areas — particularly in Gaza.
And now — as this year’s theme reminds us — press freedom faces an unprecedented threat.
Artificial intelligence can support freedom of expression — or stifle it.
Biased algorithms, outright lies, and hate speech are landmines on the information superhighway.
Accurate, verifiable, fact-based information is the best tool to defuse them.
The Global Digital Compact adopted last year includes concrete steps to strengthen international cooperation to promote information integrity, tolerance and respect in the digital space.
AI must be shaped in a way that is consistent with human rights and puts facts first.
And the Global Principles for Information Integrity I launched last year are supporting and informing this work as we push for a more humane information ecosystem.
On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s commit to make this a reality and safeguard press freedom and the press everywhere.”
Let us hope and pray that sanity will prevail in our leaders to let press freedom become a full-fledged reality for the benefit of humanity. Truth cannot be buried for long!