The Third World Media Network (TWMN) joins fellow practitioners in observing this day which reminds us of the role of our noble duty as information disseminators. Arguably, it calls for support for the media, now targets for the restraint, harassment or threats to life or abolition of press freedom under the digital age. It also calls for ending harassment to the journalists in different countries using the draconian digital laws.
It further serves to highlight the growing risks journalists face online which tend to compromise free and fair journalism. This includes digital surveillance, online threats and harassment, or laws meant to stifle digital reporting-all threats to the fundamental rights of the practitioners-the ‘mirror of Society’.
But while the journalists are called to serve the masses with information, the global climate for practitioners has more than ever before become perilous as uncouth autocrats, globally with vested interests to consolidate their hold to power, strive to divide the media.
These relentless efforts by leaders in Least Developed, Developing and indeed Developed Countries world over have quantum leaped in recent years. They are increasingly being carried out unabated globally through surveillance and digital attacks.
The killing of over 60 journalists in Mexico under ‘state managed circumstances’, the war in Ukraine, harassment of journalists in Hong Kong, the killing of journalists in Mexico, Afghanistan are all threats to media freedom.
The draconian cyber security laws being imposed in most parts of Africa aimed at stifling press freedom and access to information for professional investigative journalism are concerns that need urgent redress.
The pattern of ‘fake news’, orchestrated by either autocratic leaders aided by ‘self imposed journalists’ lustfully seeking to replace trained journalists in turn mislead the readers with ‘Fake News’ alsoserve as a stark reminder on this year’s World Press Freedom Day that purveyors of news deserve space to serve the masses.
The sticking ‘digital siege’ in which online spaces are drowned by sub-standard or unverified material, paving way for libel or slander, all disguised as journalism is inimical to the rudiments of the profession and should be fought globally and in unison-journalist being one of the world’s noblest professions.
However, despite this instigated or gloomy picture, there lie greater opportunities for the media to seek reform and remain professional disseminators of news-sticking to professional ethics as a fundamental obligation.
As TWMN takes cognisance of the call of duty in this digital age, urges all practitioners to keep the ‘oath to remain ethical’ to preserve and strengthen journalism. We also urged our readers to seek to identify credible journalism from ‘Fake News’ and ensure the information read is balanced -a two-way process.
The digital environment for news is here to stay, given the global dynamics of technology. Media owners must stand up and be counted and strive to resist temptations of purveyors of fake news being churned chiefly through digital or online by self acclaimed media owners devoid of journalism rudiments.
TWMN urges the media globally to ring-fence itself by self-regulating and ensuring it publishes ‘nothing but the truth’. Media owners are important players too. They should also strive at all times to have direct contact relationships with readers to support and preserve journalism in this volatile digital age.
TWMN recognizes the role readers can also play to support and help sustain the new media organizations through advertising of their products and services to assist them generate revenue.
Although the digital world may have challenges mopping revenue from advertising, it is the only way readers directly support our work.
Finally, TWMN concurs and renders unwavering support towards the Catholic Pontiff-Pope Francis who in his remarks last Sunday, May 3 mourned and eulogized journalists who have died or been jailed in the line of duty, defending a free press. He praised those in the media who courageously report on “humanity’s wounds”.
“I render homage to journalists who pay in person for this right,” he unequivocally said. He cited statistics pointing to the 47 journalists who had been killed and the more than 350 jailed last year. He turns to journalists engrossed in the Ukraine-Russia-conflict.
“A special thanks to those who, with courage, keep us informed about humanity’s wounds,” the pope said. Last month Francis honored journalists killed covering the Russia-Ukraine war, saying he hoped God would reward them for serving the common good.
| Sohel Manzur President | Geoffrey Kapembwa Secretary General |
NOTE TO THE EDITOR:
TWMN is a member-driven platform for journalists from the Developing and Least Developed Countries to work together for the improvement of their professional standards and to try to adhere to fair professional practices. Its head office is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
