World Press Freedom Day 2012

April 30, 2012

Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be 'World Press Freedom Day' in 1991 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 enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Freedom of the press” is not just a slogan. Nor is it only for journalists.  The right to receive and impart information is a universal one.  Governments change.  But public support for a free press should be constant because citizens are the ultimate beneficiary.  A free press enhances the public’s right to know by encouraging the free exchange of information.  Protecting it requires a national commitment, by government and the public alike. 

Publications:

	A Responsible Press Office in the Digital Age This updated edition of the 2001 IIP handbook A Responsible Press Office: An Insider’s Guide explores the relationship between government officials and the modern news media. A Responsible Press Office in the Digital Age provides guidance to government communicators about how to use social and digital media to provide the public with accurate and timely information concerning public policies, laws, programs and actions.
	Handbook of Independent Journalism  This handbook covers what every professional journalist should know — from how to research, write, and edit a story to how to write headlines, choose graphics, and select quotes and sound bites. Print, radio, TV, and Web-based journalism are discussed in detail, as well as the skills required in beat reporting. (2008)
	Media Law Handbook What are the privileges and responsibilities of a free press? In Media Law Handbook, Professor Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, explores how free societies answer this question. (2010)
	Getting the Story (from the Handbook of Independent Journalism) The tip came in an e-mail from a former government official who suggested looking into the supply of life rafts on ferries in Washington state.  Reporter Eric Nalder, then with the Seattle Times, decided to check it out.