World Press Freedom Day celebrates its 25th anniversary today, May 3rd. A free and open press is essential to the balance of power around the world and the public’s right to be informed. Since its inception by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, freedom of the press has expanded to now include freedom of the internet — which has Socially Sparked our lives well beyond 25 years. Today, we celebrate its importance and remind the world what it would be like without the media.
This year’s global theme for World Press Freedom Day is Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law.
“On World Press Freedom Day 2018, I call on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth.” — António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
In honor of the day, we celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
In the United States, freedom of the internet has been threatened by the FCC, which last July shot down net neutrality regulations.
According to Socially Sparked News contributing writer, digital/technology veteran Marc Tayer, the Net Neutrality rules were working well as a watchdog in favor of an open Internet, without stifling investment or innovation.
Socially Sparked News was founded to convey the real news about the world’s people, places, events and causes that have inspired and impacted ourlives from the past, present and into the future. Today and everyday, we celebrate the freedom of the press and the internet. — We are Socially Sparked! Tweet us @sosparkednews
May 3, 2020
[…] Freedom of the press has expanded since its inception in 1993 by the UN General Assembly to include freedom of the internet. In these uncertain times of a global pandemic and shelter in place, we rely on all things digital, […]