News Literacy Project Statement on World Press Freedom Day 2023
On this World Press Freedom Day, the recent arrest and detainment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia serves as a stark reminder to Americans that press freedoms across the globe affect us all.
In the wake of the bogus charges against Gershkovich for spying, the murder of at least 13 news workers in Mexico last year and the life-threatening reporting taking place in war zones like Ukraine and Sudan, it’s more important than ever to protect the press freedoms we have.
Accurate and fair journalism makes us better-informed, safe and empowered to take action. A free press holds the powerful accountable. It exposes atrocities so that people can pursue justice. And it keeps the public aware of what our leaders are doing in our names. We can’t look away and just hope our press remains strong here and around the world. We must actively call out countries that oppress the press and keep the pressure on them to allow journalists to report freely and fairly wherever they might be.
On this 30th anniversary of the founding of World Press Freedom Day we join others around the globe and call on Russia to release Evan Gershkovich, Mexico to step up its investigations of murdered journalists and for all countries to ensure members of the press are safe to do their work.
Originally approved in December 1993, World Press Freedom Day was designed to celebrate the basic principles of press freedom around the globe, look back on how countries are protecting the rights of journalists to report, defend the news media from being attacked for doing their job, and to pay tribute to fallen journalists.
About the News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project, the nation’s leading provider of news literacy education, is a nonpartisan education nonprofit that is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals – and ultimately a stronger democracy.