World Press Freedom Day - The African Mirror

May

2023

May 3 reflections honouring contributions of journalist victims and friends of the Gambian media

WEDNESDAY, May 3, 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day with the global theme, Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights. As a journalist, I have always believed that all other rights are intrinsically linked to the right to express oneself. This year’s theme falls in line with principles I have tried to uphold over the past 24 years. At the start of my journalism career as a cub reporter in 1998, I did not articulate it. Then, I was no activist or human rights defender. NDEY TAPHA…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Honouring contributions of journalist victims and friends of the Gambian media

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

WEDNESDAY, May 3, 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day with the global theme, Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights. NDEY TAPHA SOSSEH As a journalist, I have always believed that all other rights are intrinsically linked to the right to express oneself. This year’s theme falls in line with principles I have tried to uphold over the past 24 years. At the start of my journalism career as a cub reporter in 1998, I did not articulate it. Then, I was no activist or human rights…

May

2022

By The African Mirror

Africa’s media is under siege

MEDIA FREEDOM

CHURCHILL OTIENO THREE issues stand out for us as we mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day, whose theme is “Journalism under digital siege”. First, many governments in Africa still think they can achieve economic progress and political developments, including democracy, without a free media. But economic principles would hardly be sound without free flow of ideas and information. We must therefore help them see this reality. Free expression facilitates and enables economic growth. Secondly, a lot of value created by the media on our content is exported outside Africa by Big Tech. We must find ways that allow Big…

May

2022

By The African Mirror

Misogynistic online abuse poses major threat to women journalists

MEDIA FREEDOM

TARA CAREY THE writer is Head of Media at the international women’s rights organisation Equality Now The UN will be commemorating World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The following article is part of a series of IPS features and opinion pieces focused on media freedom globally. Women journalists around the world are experiencing an exponential increase in misogynistic online abuse, which poses a grave risk to women’s media participation in the digital age. This is a grievous form of censorship that seeks to silence women, stifle free expression, and close down critical journalism by undermining their ability to engage freely…

May

2022

By The African Mirror

World Press Freedom faces a perfect storm

MEDIA FREEDOM

FARHANA HAQUE RAHMAN THE UN will be commemorating World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The following article is part of a series of IPS features and opinion pieces focused on media freedom globally. Farhana Haque Rahman Empowered by a global pandemic and the drumbeats of war, the strongest despots are growing more despotic, and criminal cartels even more brazen in their violence. Extremists of various hues are also stepping out of the shadows. Just when the world most needs press freedom to thrive, the liberties that societies only really treasure when they are emasculated are coming under more pressure…