World Press Freedom Day

This year’s World Press Freedom Day 2021 theme “Information as a Public Good” serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution, and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind. The theme is of urgent relevance to all countries across the world. It recognizes the changing communications system that is impacting our health, our human rights, democracies, and sustainable development.

To underline the importance of information within our online media environment, World Press Freedom Day 2021 will highlight three key topics:

Steps to ensure the economic viability of news media;
Mechanisms for ensuring transparency of Internet companies;

Enhanced Media and Information Literacy (MIL) capacities that enable people to recognize and value, as well as defend and demand, journalism as a vital part of information as a public good.

Let's talk about the fourth organ of the state today, let's talk about the press and its freedom.

Every year on the 3rd of May, the issue of freedom of the media is celebrated around the world by advocating and debating on issues, criteria, and importance, remembering and honoring the contribution of journalists who were at risk and lost their lives in newsgathering. Press Freedom Day has been observed around the world since 1993 when it was ratified by the United Nations General Assembly.

Democracy and the right to information are undermined when the media does not disseminate free and fair news.

In today's world of advocacy for freedom and fairness, the press is censored, banned, journalists are imprisoned, attacked, and even killed in more than a dozen countries. Today, there is a universal effort to educate the general public and the world about the importance and freedom of the press. Besides, today serves to give journalists around the world a lesson in the importance of press neutrality.

With the advent of democracy in the last decade, there is a growing enthusiasm for press and journalism in Nepal. Today, there are hundreds of radio stations in the sky that broadcast Nepali content and context, this is a transformation compared to the old days when only radio Nepal was available as a shortwave after pulling and pushing the antenna.

Similarly, many communication centers have been established in various forms including TV, magazines, and online. This is a remarkable development. However, like the challenges that come with every development, how much has the essence of press freedom and fairness been addressed and incorporated in Nepal? Why just in Nepal, in the world? This day asks us for the pursuit of the answers upon press freedom and neutrality. Every year, media representatives from around the world will gather in Jakarta, the capital of the Asian country of Indonesia, to confer the title of UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom. This year could be different because of the COVID 19 outbreak.

Today, the world needs a right and positive press rather than misleading the people or spreading tragedy. Heartfelt salutations to these professionals who persistently risk their lives to convey accurate, truthful, and fair news. And this is the wish of Nepalis, not to make the press an arena of politics and business in the future as well.

News and information is our right and press security and freedom is also our responsibility

Meaningful wishes

Suyog Dhakal