The state of press freedom
Supporting free and independent media is a fundamental part of DW Akademie’s mission.
On this year’s World Press Freedom Day, follow the “safe to speak” #pressfreedom and #wpfd conversation on Twitter and check out DW’s overview on the state of press freedom.
Because of the crucial role that journalists play, they are frequent targets of violence. According to UNESCO, more than 600 journalists have been killed over the past decade. In addition, journalists in some regions are surveilled and intimidated, or subjected to cyberattacks.
A number of Asian nations are particularly deadly for journalists. Mali, in Africa, has recently seen a downturn in press freedoms. In countries like Turkey and Tunisia, the courts are a preferred venue for silencing journalists who seek to publicize information that opposes the interests of the powerful. And in Southeastern Europe, business interests exert undue pressure on media.
Besides fostering a safe environment for journalists, laws need to be created and enforced to protect freedom of expression, which continues to be fundamental to democracy.
On World Press Freedom Day, DW takes a look at the state of press freedoms – and limitations upon them – across the globe.
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