World Press Freedom Day


Every year , 3 May is set aside to celebrate world Press Freedom Day. A day that governments are reminded of their commitment to media freedom.  According to the United Nations, It also serves as a day to celebrate important principles of press freedom, assess the process of press freedom around the world and pay tribute to journalists who lost their lives in line of duty.


This year the day is being celebrated under the theme ,"Journalism under Digital Siege."


It is also a day that journalist get to reflect on their way of doing business. However with the onset of social media journalism is really under siege.


 A new crop of citizen journalist has cropped who in many cases do not pay attention to the ethics of journalism. 


As a result of social media , everyone feels like they have the responsibility of disseminating information without bearing in mind who will and might be affected by that information.


The most affected by all this is the girl child or women in general. Many are times that we come face to face with images or videos that tarnish the image of women. Nude pictures and sex tapes have become a thorn to the pride of the womenfolk because of social media and unethical journalism. Indeed journalism is under digital seige.


The main roles of journalism are to educate, inform and entertain , however these have been distorted in this digital era where everyone feels entitled to disseminate information. Press freedom is vital but it also comes with responsibilities however it has been used in many times as a tool to diminish women.


There is need to use the media as a tool to empower women, to empower the girl child who looks upto the media as a source of inspiration.


On a day like this, tribute has to be paid to women who are doing tremendous work in the media industry. Women who are telling positive stories about other women, the women who are fighting for gender equality through the media.


Press freedom is essential but let's embrace it with its responsibilities.


Feministry!

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 3, 2022 at 7:07 AM

    👏👏👏👏

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 3, 2022 at 7:08 AM

    👏👏👏👏👏

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 3, 2022 at 9:17 AM

    Let jounos be jounos the rest of us let us use phone cameras for selfies full stop.

    ReplyDelete

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