World Press Freedom Day
The day is a chance to remember the crucial role free press can play in the world and a chance to reflect on the damage caused to individuals and society when freedom of the press is denied. "Free and unrestricted media access" was one of China's promises to the world in line with the hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games.
World Press Freedom Day was first proclaimed by the United Nations on 3 May 1993.
Press freedom contributes to community engagement, empowerment, democratic change. Denying press freedom has negative ramifications upon literacy, education, health care, societal growth and economic development.
Journalists across the world risk their lives to report factual events, relay personal accounts and gather information. China's Government is certainly one that does not permit freedom of the press. Chinese journalists are detained, tortured and potentially even executed under vaguely worded crimes such as 'divulging state secrets' or acting 'against national interest'. Media in China is state-owned and the Government has put in place arguably the world's tightest controls on today's media frontier, the internet.
With over 20,000 media personnel registered to attend the Beijing Games, we can expect more reports, more investigations and perhaps more probing questions than ever before by the international media on the ground in China. However, it is not enough to have simple visa processing and internet access in Beijing for 3 weeks - we are calling for true press freedom in China. For domestic and foreign journalists to be treated the same way, and both in a manner that truly upholds freedom of expression. For journalists, bloggers and the general community to be able to report on, read about and comment openly on issues of the day.
We are using the Day to draw attention to China's system of online censorship, to the individuals imprisoned in China for peacefully expressing their opinion on the internet and also to the role that internet companies play in maintaining the system of repression.
ACT NOW to let these internet companies know that you support freedom of expression in China. Call on Sohu, Baidu, Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google to change their practices in China.
Comments
Healthy guy | Posted on 6 May 2008, 05:10AM | Report comment
Press Freedom is important, but there is always limits in freedom.
Badly managed press can lead to conflict, riot and really bad for our health
hboGYT | Posted on 5 May 2008, 07:11PM | Report comment
Don’t worry I promised you won’t get killed.
It’s all about politics(placing freedom of speech in constitution), as they all know that the allowance of this right is impractical under the current circumstances.
I support human right. And I ask you to campaign for it in other countries.
I know it is rather difficult for you to understand our feelings because we were brought up in different societies.
Sophie Peer | Posted on 5 May 2008, 01:50PM | Report comment
Isn’t it great that we can have this discussion.
We cannot do this in China without serious risk.
Sophie Peer | Posted on 5 May 2008, 01:47PM | Report comment
hboGYT, I think the point is that these bloggers have a grounding in universal human rights and standards - something that many policies in China seem to have forgotten. In this case, certainly the right to free speech.
Chinese leaders did place this right in the country’s constitution - yet still peaceful bloggers and journalists are locked up.
hboGYT | Posted on 3 May 2008, 01:30PM | Report comment
Laugh out loud.
Bascially you are saying you know my country better than our elite leaders. How arrogant. If it really benefits Chinese people, they would have implemented this strategy.
vnessinfurs | Posted on 3 May 2008, 09:39AM | Report comment
It’s true that Chinese economists may know Chinese society best. But the Great Leap Forward shows that China’s economic decisions are not always in the hands of those with the most objective information.
Since then, the economy has been more deregulated and an increased level of independent activity is possible.
Despite this, as is acknowledged by senior members of the CCP (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22614110-28737,00.html)
health and education services are still in crisis, especially in rural areas.
The role of a free press is vital in holding the government accountable to improvement in these areas. For one thing, it would liberate Chinese economists to forecast what is in the best interests of the Chinese people -even when it does not match the current strategy of Chinese economic leaders.
hboGYT | Posted on 2 May 2008, 09:16PM | Report comment
“Denying press freedom has negative ramifications upon literacy, education, health care, societal growth and economic development”
This may be true for developed nations, but not for China. Economic life differs from country to country. Our own economists know our society better than you and anyone else.
From your arguement, I can see that you have not studied any social science. Wait maybe you have, and you are just trying to fool those unwary.