Celebrating World Press Freedom Day… but it goes by hardly noticed in South Africa
For many ordinary citizens who feel that local and national government has failed them, the press is the only watchdog that remains reliable.
May 3 is World Press Freedom Day – It’s an international day to be sure, but with the prevalence of so much fake news, it is hard for the “people” to get behind the ideal…
For those who care, and trust me we all should: the World Press Freedom Day theme is ‘Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’.
World Press Freedom Day not only celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, but also helps to evaluate press freedom around the world and defend the media and journalists from attack. In many countries, journalists live in fear… Death is a constant reminder that the pen can change the world, but also can so easily be silenced with a bullet!
So far this year, 13 journalists (8 confirmed and 5 suspected) have been killed in the line of duty, according to the CPJ (Community to Protect Journalists).
Sadly, for a country where the press was previously heavily censored by the National Party, newspapers and journalists banned, in the new democratic South Africa the day goes by without a murmur. On the contrary, those in power seem to fear the press and accuse it of ‘being a third force’.
For many ordinary citizens who feel that local and national government has failed them, the press is the only watchdog that remains reliable.
