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UN / GUTERRES WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
STORY: UN / GUTERRES WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
TRT: 01:27
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 1 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
1 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Journalists and media workers are crucial to helping us making informed decisions. As the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic, those decisions can make the difference between life and death. On World Press Freedom Day, we call on governments and others to guarantee that journalists can do their job throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. As the pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a second pandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracy theories. The press provides the antidote: verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis. But since the pandemic begun, many journalists are being subjected to increased restrictions and punishment simply for doing their jobs. Temporary constraints in freedom of movement are essential to beat COVID-19, but they must not be abused as an excuse to crack down on journalists’ ability to do their work. Today, we thank the media for providing fact and analysis, holding leaders in every sector accountable and for speaking truth to power. We particularly recognize those who are playing a life-saving role reporting on public health. And we call on governments to protect media workers and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for a future of peace, justice, and human rights for all.”
Secretary-General António Guterres called for greater protection of journalists who are providing the “antidote” to what he has characterized as a pandemic of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.
In a video message released ahead of World Press Freedom Day, observed this coming Sunday, Guterres made the appeal in which he underscored the crucial role media has in helping people make “informed decisions.”
He added that under the current circumstances, “those decisions can make the difference between life and death.”
The Secretary-General said that “as the pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a second pandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracy theories.”
The press, on the other hand, he said, “provides the antidote: verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis.”
As the COVID-19 crisis has deepened, both the UN chief and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been focused on countering the COVID-19 “infodemic”.
In late March, the Secretary-General announced the launch of a communications strategy to fight the rise in misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding the new disease.
Guterres urged governments to protect journalists and others who work in media, and to uphold press freedom.
He said while temporary movement constraints are essential to beat back COVID-19, “they must not be abused as an excuse to crack down on journalists’ ability to do their work.”
The UN chief thanked the media “for providing facts and analysis; for holding leaders – in every sector – accountable; and for speaking truth to power”.
He particularly recognized those journalists playing “a life-saving role” in reporting on public health.
“And we call on governments to protect media workers, and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for a future of peace, justice and human rights for all”, he concluded.
This year, the theme is “Journalism Without Fear or Favour.”
UNESCO is organizing a free livestreamed event on Sunday to mark the Day. It’s called the "Difference Day Conference 2020." And from May 4th through the 6th, there will be several webinars and online discussions on various social media platforms. Details are available on the UNESCO website.
