By Fortune Abang, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

World over, a free press plays a crucial role in informing the public on positive developments; exposing societal ills, holding leaders accountable and acting as a watch dog.

In recognition of the importance of a free press, the UN General Assembly declared May 3, annually, as World Press Freedom Day.

The event is to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through media regardless of frontiers,’’ the declaration states.

Stakeholders say there is need for free, independent and diverse journalism to bolster democratic growth in any society.

They emphasise on the need for adherence to press freedom as it will be instrumental in not only exposing corruption, environmental issues and social injustices but also in shaping public opinion.

Some recounted risks faced by journalists and how most journalists lost their lives doing their job, while calling for sustainable measures to avoid further threats and censorship.

According to policy analysts, there is the need for intervention from media management and government at all levels in order to promote freedom of the press and bolster democratic culture across the world.

Alina Doodnath, a Caribbean Online News Agency “Loop News” Reporter based in Trinidad and Tobago, described Press Freedom as a strong foundation upon which journalists could advance their labour rights, to earn working and living wage.

According to her, in the Caribbean, journalists go above and beyond every day to uphold commitment to the professional ethics, working without overtime pay and, sometimes, under dangerous conditions.

“Their lives are at risk every day, whether it is from physical violence or from vulnerability, due to their employment’s lack of adequate labour regulations, leaving them dependent and also open to outside influences.

“Journalists have unrelenting commitment to helping people by upholding tenets of journalism through unbiased and accurate reporting; sometimes being a reporter can cost your life, whether from violence, physical and mental stress of the job.

“I hope in future media organisations will establish stronger protection policies for journalists to be able to carry out their duties with confidence, knowing their rights as workers are protected,” she said.

Marie Ngono, a journalist at the Cameroon Tribune, a bilingual national daily, stressed the need for various African media management to take proactive measures aimed at advancing press freedom and promoting credible information dissemination across the continent for public interest.

According to her, it entails capacity building centered on fundamental principles of journalism, promotion of editorial independence amidst political, economic and social pressure and the use of digital technology in countering the spread of fake news.

“Journalists should employ measures to ensure their self-protection against violence, including using digital and physical safety strategy, promote diversity and social-inclusion, as well as lend voices to marginalised persons in communities.

“Journalists should build public trust by upholding professionalism and transparency, as well as create awareness about relevant laws and policies designed to protect press freedom,” she said.

In the same vein, Talibeh Hydara, Editor of The Republic, a media-organisation-based in The Gambia, decried unprecedented violence against journalists across the world.

“Governments and societies must prioritise protecting journalists from censorship, harassment, and violence, ensuring they can report without fear.

“There is also an urgent need to strengthen legal frameworks to safeguard media independence, promoting transparency in governance and combating misinformation through education.

“If these measures are in place, media organisations will thrive on their own without any financial support and truth will prevail over falsehood and corruption,” he said.

Mohamed Saad, Editor-in-Chief of the Brown Newspaper based in Sudan, bemoaned bad governance systems and tradition as major challenges facing press freedom, particularly in the Sahel.

“Unfortunately, African journalism is often subordinate to governments’ authoritarian policy and many attempts to criticize or expose corruption can lead to imprisonment or assassination.

“We must change the ugly narrative; the concept of government towards journalism is changing the idea that journalism satisfies power.

“Fear of the authorities is also main reason for lack of press freedom in Africa; for there to be free press, there must be a nascent democracy,” he said.

A Ghanaian Times Senior Reporter, MALIK Sullemana, said that press freedom had become important to ensure sustainability of a just, fair and democratic society.

“No society can thrive without journalism; thus far, the state must ensure the safety of journalists is guaranteed at all times.

“To ensure press freedom, I suggest the enactment of laws or legislation that makes attacks on journalist a first degree felony, plus a fine and minimum prison term of not less than 25 years for offenders,” he said.

Marthe Akissi, a member of the National Organisation of Investigative Journalists of Côte d’Ivoire, underscored the need to strengthen legal frameworks protecting journalists and independent media, to advance press freedom.

She said it entailed abolishment of repressive defamation laws, often used to suppress critical voices and ending impunity for violence against journalists.

“Governments must create legal and institutional environments that protect, rather than repress the press.

“In this regard, my thoughts today, being World Press Freedom Day, are with some of our Burkina colleagues who have been kidnapped and others taken to the front line.

“Citizens’ support for free media and the mobilisation of civil society can also help to create an environment conducive to a free press operation,” she said.

On his part, Ephrahim Bahemu, Business Editor of Mwananchi Communications Limited in Tanzania, said press freedom could be strengthened through establishment of a legal framework to protect media independence, particularly in areas of government interference.

He said that such laws should be centred on safeguarding journalists from any environment that infringed upon their freedom to report issues of public interest.

According to him, in addition to legal protections, financial independence has become crucial for ensuring truly free press operations.

“Over the years, the media landscape has shifted dramatically; traditional sources of revenue, such as mainstream advertising, have been disrupted by the rise of digital platforms like Google and social media.

“As a result, many media outlets have become increasingly dependent on government advertising, which compromises their editorial freedom.

“To address this, the media industry must explore alternative and sustainable revenue models.

“One such solution could be implementation of paywalls for news content, encouraging audiences to support quality journalism directly. Innovation in monetization strategies is essential because good journalism cannot exist without financial resources,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eman Alshammry, Saudi Arabian Journalist of Aljazirah Newspaper, reiterated the need for journalists to imbibe professional ethics to bolster the freedom of the press, which she said is globally operated in red lines.

According to her, wanting to express one’s opinion does not mean that one should cross the boundaries of one’s profession as a journalist.

“Respecting the space available to you demonstrates your awareness and high culture.

“Freedom does not mean transgression; such is not freedom, but chaos,” Alshammry advised.

Stakeholders say effective implementation of policies centered on press freedom are pivotal to ensuring safety of journalists, as the ultimate guarantor of the people’s right to know.

They say supporting journalists in the midst of war, crises and teething conflicts through provision of technical, financial, legal and psychological assistance will advance press freedom and boost their right to information and protection.(NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.