UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning about the growing threats that journalists face globally on the eve of World Press Freedom Day.
Speaking fervently about the vital role that journalism plays in educating and involving the public, Guterres underlined the pressing need to defend media professionals and press freedom.
Guterres emphasized how important media professionals and journalists are to maintaining accountability and the truth. He emphasized that battling misinformation and disinformation becomes impossible without access to reliable information.
“…. The United Nations recognizes the invaluable work of journalists and media professionals to ensure that the public is informed and engaged. Without facts, we cannot fight mis- and disinformation. Without accountability, we will not have strong policies in place. Without press freedom, we won’t have any freedom. A free press is not a choice, but a necessity” said Antonio Guterres.
“Media freedom is under siege. And environmental journalism is an increasingly dangerous profession. Dozens of journalists covering illegal mining, logging, poaching and other environmental issues have been killed in recent decades. In the vast majority of cases, no one has been held to account. UNESCO reports that in the past 15 years, there have been some 750 attacks on journalists and news outlets reporting on environmental issues. And the frequency of such attacks is rising….” he added.
Recognizing the serious hazards that environmental journalists confront, Guterres bemoaned the growing danger that comes with reporting on topics like poaching, unlawful mining, and logging. He disclosed that numerous journalists covering environmental matters have perished in the past few decades, and those responsible have mainly escaped punishment. UNESCO reports that in the last 15 years, there have been almost 750 attacks on journalists and news organizations who cover environmental concerns, pointing to a concerning trend of violence against media professionals.
