By Sylvain Kwambi
In many countries, press freedom is threatened by restrictive laws, direct censorship, or physical intimidation. Journalists and media outlets that dare to criticise the ruling power often face legal action, arrests, and even physical violence.
According to the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, countries like Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands stand out for respecting this freedom. On the other hand, countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are among the most repressive, where journalists are often imprisoned, and media is tightly controlled by authorities. African states are no exception.
For example, between January 2023 and October 2024, journalists Martinez Zogo (Cameroon), Ismail al-Ghoul (Palestine), and Victoria Roshchyna (Ukraine) were killed under tragic circumstances. Since 1992, CPJ has recorded 2,367 journalist deaths, including murders, crossfire casualties, and other dangerous assignments with confirmed motives. These incidents underscore the significant risks journalists face worldwide in their pursuit of reporting the truth.
One of the fundamental principles of press freedom is the independence of the media. However, often subject to economic or political pressures, they become unable to fulfil their mission. And yet as the fourth estate, helps oversee political power, a crucial role to democracy, ensuring transparency, informing citizens, and holding governments accountable.
It is therefore crucial that governments, international organisations, and civil society work together to protect and promote press freedom through clear legislation that guarantees freedom of expression and access to information, while also protecting journalists from physical and psychological attacks.
Freedom of expression is not only a right for journalists but for all citizens. With the rise of social media and digital platforms worldwide, the spread of misinformation has become a major challenge for press freedom.
Defending this freedom is essential for the health of democracy, for the balance of powers, and for the preservation of human rights worldwide.
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