Press freedom is sacred, let’s keep it that way

Twenty years ago today, a declaration was made in Windhoek, Namibia, to commemorate Press freedom as worldwide.

Online information repository Wikipedia states that the UN General Assembly set aside May 3 as a day to "raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the Press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression".

This year’s anniversary is themed "21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers".

It is meant to audit how relevant fundamental principles of media freedom are in the digital age, and how much citizens have been able to voice opinions and access information.

This edition comes against momentous change. Even as traditional means of sourcing information change to suit a new generation of users through the widespread application of electronic devices and the Internet, the Press remains a key pillar in all facets of life.

It is increasingly the organ humanity has turned to disseminate social and health information, economic indices, political strategy, judicial rulings, and even environmental matters. Humanity is able to handle greater volumes of information, process it faster and disseminate it even faster, thanks to fibre optic cabling, microchips and nano technology. There is now no such a concern as "information overload".

Megalomaniacs

Even as the Press evolves and is increasingly the vehicle of choice for agitators for democratic governance, crusaders of accountability and transparency in governments and public institutions, it has also suffered censorship at the hands of intolerant, autocratic megalomaniacs, masquerading as presidents, kings or prime ministers and their allies.

Many such are keen to plunder their economies and by muzzling the Press, starve their subjects of much-needed information, and keep them subjugated. In this regard alone, Press freedom must be engraved in constitutions and entrenched as a basic right. That is why this year’s theme is so apt.

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Press freedom