UN / WORLD PRESS FREEDOM

Marking World Press Freedom Day, the President of the General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa, said, “at a time when nationalism, populism, and extremism are on the rise, when hate speech, rumors, and lies can spread like wildfire, we need journalism, high quality journalism, independent and diverse media, more than ever.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:37
• Production Date: 3 May 2019
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: MARIA F. ESPINOSA GARCES
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: JOURNALISM; PRESS FREEDOM
• MAMS Id: 2388772
• Parent Id: 2388772
• Alternate Title: unifeed190503e

Description

STORY: UN / WORLD PRESS FREEDOM
TRT: 02:37
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 03 MAY 2019, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

03 MAY 2019, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, conference room
3. Wide shot, dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) María Fernanda Espinosa, President, United Nations General Assembly:
“At a time when nationalism, populism, and extremism are on the rise, when hate speech, rumors, and lies can spread like wildfire, we need journalism, high quality journalism, independent and diverse media, more than ever. It is journalists who shine a spotlight on abuse and corruption. It is journalists who tell the stories that need to be told. It is journalists who can give voice to those whom nobody listens. It is journalists who hold up a mirror to society.”
5. Wide shot, dais
6. SOUNDBITE (English) María Fernanda Espinosa, President, United Nations General Assembly:
“This day should be a celebration of journalists, editors, photographers, filmmakers, publisher, policy makers of all those who contribute to create the conditions for a free, pluralistic and independent media. But it’s also become a sobering occasion as the media space shrinks across the world, as restrictive laws and policies are enacted. It has become a chilling occasion as media workers and their families are subjected to threats and reprisals.”
7. Wide shot, audience applause
8. Wide shot, dais
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Valeria Robecco, Journalist, President, UN Correspondents Association (UNCA):
“Journalists are threatened, and a growing number of colleagues are killed. At the same time, we are threatened by the diffusion of fake news, which has not only diminished public trust, but also becomes a lever for autocratic regimes to attack and persecute us. According to the 2019 World Press Freedom Index, recently released by Reporters without Borders, hostility towards journalists across the globe is growing. Authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on media organizations, leading to an increase in hatred and fear haunting media workers. Furthermore, journalists in democratic and free nations are also under threat. Essentially, the climate journalists work in has deteriorated worldwide and journalism can be an extremely dangerous profession.”
10. Wide shot, audience applause

Storyline

Celebrating World Press Freedom Day, the President of the General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa, today (3 May) said, “at a time when nationalism, populism, and extremism are on the rise, when hate speech, rumors, and lies can spread like wildfire, we need journalism, high quality journalism, independent and diverse media, more than ever.”

Espinosa said “it is journalists who shine a spotlight on abuse and corruption. It is journalists who tell the stories that need to be told. It is journalists who can give voice to those whom nobody listens. It is journalists who hold up a mirror to society.”

The GA President said, “this day should be a celebration of journalists, editors, photographers, filmmakers, publisher, policy makers of all those who contribute to create the conditions for a free, pluralistic and independent media. But it’s also become a sobering occasion as the media space shrinks across the world, as restrictive laws and policies are enacted. It has become a chilling occasion as media workers and their families are subjected to threats and reprisals.”

Valeria Robecco, an Italian journalist and President of the UN Correspondents Association (UNCA), read the names of the 99 journalists who were killed during the past year.

She said, “journalists are threatened, and a growing number of colleagues are killed. At the same time, we are threatened by the diffusion of fake news, which has not only diminished public trust, but also becomes a lever for autocratic regimes to attack and persecute us.”

Robecco said, “authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on media organizations, leading to an increase in hatred and fear haunting media workers. Furthermore, journalists in democratic and free nations are also under threat. Essentially, the climate journalists work in has deteriorated worldwide and journalism can be an extremely dangerous profession.”

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

The 26th celebration of World Press Freedom Day is jointly organized by UNESCO, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The main event will take place in Addis Ababa, on 1 – 3 May at the African Union Headquarters. This year's theme “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation” discusses current challenges faced by media in elections, along with the media’s potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes.