The press, or more broadly, the media, is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy. By disseminating information, providing a public forum for discussions and debates, and reporting on the activities of the government, it creates an informed and engaged citizenry. The media, collectively, acts as a watchdog, a necessary check in a functioning democracy.
But, those in power and other vested interests are increasingly gagging the disseminator of information. The recently released 2023 World Press Freedom Index presents a grim picture. According to the report published on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, “the situation is “very serious” in 31 countries, “difficult” in 42, “problematic” in 55, and “good” or “satisfactory” in 52 countries.”
Norway, Ireland, and Denmark scored the first three places on the list for press freedom. China (179) and North Korea (180), well known for their repressive, authoritarian regimes, comprised the bottom of the index.
It is not just in Asia where reporters are facing trouble. Journalists and reporters are increasingly coming under attack all around the world. In 2022, 67 media workers were killed in the line of duty. There has been a 50% increase in the killing of media personnel in the last year.
Governments affect legislation under various heads, including national security, defamation, cybercrime, sedition, and anti-terror laws. Such laws often inhibit the ability of journalists to report truthfully or critique the establishment.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) annual prison census, a record number – 363 journalists – were serving imprisonment across the globe as of December 2022. Iran, China, Myanmar, Turkey, and Belarus were the top countries sending press personnel to prison. Here again, China held the number one spot, with 99 journalists imprisoned, with an additional 11 media persons held in Hong Kong.
According to Christophe Deloire, Secretary-General of Reporters without Borders, “The World Press Freedom Index shows enormous volatility in situations, with major rises and falls and unprecedented changes, such as Brazil’s 18-place rise and Senegal’s 31-place fall. This instability is the result of increased aggressiveness on the part of the authorities in many countries and growing animosity towards journalists on social media and in the physical world. The volatility is also the consequence of growth in the fake content industry, which produces and distributes disinformation and provides the tools for manufacturing it.”
The massive changes in the media industry are also playing a role in the curtailing of press freedom. Bankruptcy woes and the forced closure of local news outlets are reshaping the news culture in many parts of the world. The consolidation of newspapers, channels, and online portals in the hand of a few mega-corporations is changing the narrative on crucial issues.
While repressive governments have always strived to gag or censor the press, the emergence of social media and online platforms as mainstream sources of news and information poses a different threat. Such platforms are constantly being used to push fake news, disinformation, and propaganda disguised as information. Hate speech, intimidation, and harassment against those who report the truth and expose the actions of those in power are common.
Based on the UNESCO General Conference recommendation, the UN General Assembly declared May 3rd World Press Freedom Day in 1993. The day marks the importance of press freedom. It reminds governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Three decades later, UNESCO is preparing to publish guidelines on the moderation and selection of online content.
The proliferation of online media platforms has only made reporting more dangerous. Sensationalism often triumphs over truth, and what goes ‘viral’ is what gets viewed or read most often.
Despite increasing online access and presence for citizens in most parts of the world, UNESCO reports that “85% of the world’s population experienced the downsizing of their freedom in the last five years.” With freedom of expression under criminal codes in more than 150 countries, the press cannot perform their work independently and without interference.
Press freedom is a citizen’s freedom. Gagging the media is akin to muffling the truth.
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Geopolitics And Geoeconomics
1. Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Attempt To Kill Putin With Drones – Al Jazeera
Putin was not in the building at the time, and there was no material damage to the Kremlin, Russian officials said, as they warned of their right to retaliate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the accusations, saying his country had not attacked Moscow or its president.
2. No Choice But To Physically Eliminate Zelensky: Russia After Drone Assassination Attempt On Putin – WION
In a strong-worded statement, the country’s deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said that now there are no other options left other than the physical elimination of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky “and his clique.”
3. Ukraine Counter-Offensive Under Way, Says Russian Mercenary Leader – Reuters
Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russia’s Wagner Group mercenary force, said he believed a promised counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops had already begun.
The Kyiv government has long promised a counteroffensive to start taking back territory in the east that Russia annexed after invading in February 2022.
4. China’s March Crude Oil Imports From Russia Jump 1.5-Fold On Year – Kyodo News
Regarding volume, China’s crude oil imports from Russia hit their highest level since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with Russia surpassing Saudi Arabia as the largest crude oil provider for China.
The development came after Western nations introduced a price cap in December on Russian crude oil to squeeze Moscow’s key source of revenue as economic punishment for its ongoing war in Ukraine.
5. China Flags Uighurs As ‘Extremist’ For Having Quran, Report Says – Al Jazeera
Chinese authorities monitor the phones of ethnic minority Uighurs for the presence of 50,000 known multimedia files that are used to flag violent extremism, with possession of the Quran enough to trigger a police interrogation, according to a forensic investigation by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
6. Taiwan Trade Chief Warns Against ‘Unnecessary Fear’ Of China – A.P.
Taiwan’s chief trade representative, John Chen-Chung Deng, insists Taiwan is an ideal place for semiconductor production and other U.S. trade, business, and investment, despite tensions with China.
“We should avoid any exaggeration or rhetoric which doesn’t reflect the true situation, that creates fear … unnecessary fear,” said Deng.
7. China Says Claims Of Officials ‘Coercing’ Canadian Congressman, Relatives Are False – Reuters
China’s Toronto consulate-general said a report of consular officers “coercing” a Canadian lawmaker and his family have “no factual basis and is purely baseless,” adding that Canadian media and politicians have ulterior motives.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that Canada’s spy agency withheld information about Chinese threats against Michael Chong, a member of parliament with Canada’s main opposition Conservative party, and his family in 2021.
8. China Takes Commanding Lead In EV Charging Patents – Nikkei Asia
Chinese companies have submitted more patent applications related to electric vehicle charging and battery swapping than rivals from any other country, achieving strides in key technologies to make the experience faster and more convenient.
Chinese businesses filed 41,011 patent applications in these areas from 2010 to 2022, Tokyo-based analytics company Patent Result reports.
9. Oil Tanker Traveling From UAE’s Dubai To Fujairah Seized By Iran In Strait Of Hormuz – Reuters
Iran has seized a second oil tanker in a week in Gulf waters. The U.S. Navy said the latest escalation in a series of seizures or attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf waters since 2019.
10. Sudan: UN Admits Failure To Avert War As Aid Looted – D.W
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the organization failed to prevent the outbreak of war in Sudan amid reports that food aid has been looted in Khartoum and Darfur.
Martin Griffiths, UN chief for humanitarian affairs, said that six trucks belonging to the World Food Programme were looted in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, despite assurances of safety and security.
11. UN Chief Urges All Nations To Stop Targeting Media And Truth – A.P.
The United Nations chief warned on the eve of World Press Freedom Day that the media is under attack in every corner of the world and urged all nations to stop targeting truth and those who report it.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the 50% increase in the killing of media workers in 2022 “unbelievable,” stressing that freedom of the press “is the foundation of democracy and justice,” and it is under threat.
12. Google, Meta Threaten To Limit Services In Canada Over News Bill – Al Jazeera
Canada’s proposed legislation would force platforms to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content.
This is part of a broader global trend to make tech firms pay for news. Ottawa’s proposal is similar to a ground-breaking law Australia passed in 2021, which also triggered threats from Google and Facebook to curtail their services. Both eventually struck deals with Australian media companies after amendments to the legislation were offered.
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Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
THEPRESS DID THIS TO THEMSELVES FOR CODDLING THE LIBS LIES F THEM ALL.