Feature of the Month: May 2007
PRESS FREEDOM DAY
"The policy of the United States is to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture. Without a free and vibrant press a nation cannot find its voice and become a flourishing democracy."
- President George W. Bush
“…There is no more important pillar of democracy than a free and active press.”
– Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
As part of President George W. Bush’s Freedom Agenda, the United States views freedom of the press as a key component of democracy. The free exchange of ideas fosters an accountable government and allows the viewpoints of many, including those marginalized in a society, to be heard. The United States works bilaterally and multilaterally in many ways to support press freedom worldwide.
"One of our most important roles at the State Department is to defend the defenders of freedom. This week, on May 3, the world will observe World Press Freedom Day to honor the brave journalists from Belarus to Cuba to Iran who are struggling valiantly for the right to express themselves and to inform the citizens of their nations. The message must go out that the world cares about press freedom, not just on Press Freedom Day, but every day, to signal that people are watching and pressing governments for full accountability for attacks against journalists and against a free press.
So to all the courageous journalists –- writers, editors, producers, cameramen – who are daily risking their lives in many countries, we want you to know that America stands with you in supporting free of thought and democratic life. We want to be your partners and supporters in keeping freedom of the press and thus freedom of thought and expression flourishing."
Karen P. Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy
A Free and Active Media
A free and active media is an invaluable tool in democratic societies. In the United States, the press often is called ‘the Fourth Estate,’ a reference to the media’s role as an unofficial fourth branch of government. When the press is free and independent, it keeps the public informed and discourages the government from abusing or exceeding its powers. In a democracy, citizens trust the press to investigate political corruption, report on human rights violations and shed light on injustices committed by the government.
Unfortunately, in many countries around the world today the press is neither free nor independent. According to Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Round-up 2006, released December 31, 2006, at least 110 reporters were killed in 2006, the highest number of casualties since 1994. In 2007, the environment remains challenging for journalists, yet reporters around the world remain committed to their pursuit of truth.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights indicates: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers".
U.S. Initiatives and Programs
"Freedom of Speech" in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws. The First Amendment was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The United States works to protect and promote press freedom at home and to spotlight places where press freedom is threatened abroad.
Reporting and Denouncing Violations
- The U.S. State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights spotlight threats facing a free press and are a tool for governments, NGOs and citizens. In 2006, for the first time, the Reports included a section on Internet freedom.
Supporting a Free Press through Programs and Exchanges
- The State Department provides professional development and exchange programs for journalists, editors and media managers from around the world, such as the Edward R. Murrow Journalism Fellowships. It supports journalists producing radio and television programs that are independent of state-controlled media. The U.S. funds NGOs that promote a free press abroad, and defend journalists under threat.
Promoting Internet Freedom
- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice launched the Global Internet Freedom Task Force in February, 2006, to maximize the free flow of information on the Internet while minimizing the abilities of repressive regimes to censor it.
Working Multilaterally
UNESCO
- The United States was a founding member and is the fourth largest donor of UNESCO’s International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) that promotes media independence in developing countries.
- Since rejoining UNESCO in 2003, the United States has increased its donations to the IPDC five-fold to $300,000 and has funded many of its media development projects, including in Afghanistan, Colombia, Cameroon, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, and Uganda.
- The United States commemorates the U.N.-sponsored World Press Freedom Day on May 3. And the U.S. joins UNESCO in honoring Anna Politkovskaya of Russia, who is being posthumously awarded the 2007 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
- The United States passionately supported freedom of the press and the free flow of information at both phases of the UN World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005.
- The United States supports the free expression principles listed in the WSIS Declaration of Principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as they apply to the Internet and the need for them to be honored even in connection with efforts to promote security and fight crime.
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Palestinian journalists hold posters of kidnapped BBC correspondent Alan Johnston during a March 20, 2007, protest (© AP Images)
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Journalists shave their heads as a sign of protest on March 1, 2006, at the National Press Club in Manila, Philippines (© AP Images)
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First day of broadcasting of Hungary's first Roma radio station “Radio C" in Budapest, Hungary, on February 11, 2001 (© AP Images)
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BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
World Press Freedom Day is a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration asserts for everyone the rights of freedom of opinion and expression through any media regardless of frontiers.
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, the day is celebrated each year on 3 May, the anniversary of the "Declaration of Windhoek", a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991. According to the Windhoek Declaration "the establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation, and for economic development."
World Press Freedom Day serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.
It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.
It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
UNESCO promotes freedom of expression and freedom of the press and fosters media independence and pluralism by providing advisory services on media legislation and by making governments, parliamentarians and other decision-makers aware of the need to guarantee free expression. “The rights to life and to liberty and integrity and security of person and also to freedom of expression are fundamental human rights that are recognized and guaranteed by international conventions and instruments.” (UNESCO Resolution, General Conference 1997). Press freedom, safety of journalists and impunity will be the topics of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2007.
2007 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
Created in 1997, the prize is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organizations working for press freedom, and by UNESCO member states.
The Prize is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in Bogotá, on 17 December 1986. Cano's writings had offended Colombia's powerful drug barons.
Due to the 10th anniversary of UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize, this year’s World Press Freedom Day will be celebrated in the city of Medellin, Colombia. The murder of Guillermo Cano, director of the Colombian daily newspaper “El Espectador,” is significant as regards unpunished crimes against journalists. Guillermo Cano Isaza was assassinated on December 17, 1986 in front of the newspaper’s exit in Bogota by two hired killers. Cano was a victim of drug trafficking mafias, which he fearlessly denounced and about whose harmful effects on Colombian society he cautioned. The magistrates in charge of the investigation became the objects of threats and bribes, with some being murdered for rejecting such bribes. The life of Guillermo Cano, his courage, his commitment to independent journalism and the tenacity with which he fought for his country are an example for the rest of the world to follow.
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