WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2012
May 3, 2012
On World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated every May 3rd, —and every day—the United States honors and supports media freedom at home and abroad. Press freedom is a key element of the freedom of expression, which is a foundation for other universal human rights. "Freedom of the press" is not just a slogan. Nor is it only for journalists. The right to receive and impart information is a universal one. Governments change. But public support for a free press should be constant because citizens are the ultimate beneficiary. A free press enhances the public's right to know by encouraging the free exchange of information. Protecting it requires a national commitment, by government and the public alike.
SPECIAL MESSAGES FROM U.S. GOVERNMENT ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2012
Statement by President Barack Obama (May 3, 2012) - "On this World Press Freedom Day, the United States honors the role of a free press in creating sustainable democracies and prosperous societies. We pay special tribute to those journalists who have sacrificed their lives, freedom or personal well-being in pursuit of truth and justice."
Statement and Video Message by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton (May 3, 2012) - "Today we celebrate the contributions that journalists make to the struggle for human dignity, liberty and prosperity, and we also celebrate the enduring principle enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – that all people have the right to freely express their views, no matter who they are, where they live, or what those views may be."
U.S. COMMITMENTS TO SUPPORT PRESS FREEDOM
Highlights of the U.S. Department of State and USAID's Efforts to Support Press and Media Freedom (May 3, 2012) - As a part of its "Free the Press" campaign, the Department of State is documenting on www.HumanRights.gov emblematic cases of journalists living and working under threat and duress because of their efforts to exercise the freedom of expression.
Free the Press Campaign by State Officials Tara D. Sonenshine and Michael Posner (April 18, 2012) - "As a former journalist, I have seen up close and personal some of the occupational hazards of speaking truth to power. And I do want to say to all of you that I believe media freedom is oxygen; it's the moral equivalent of oxygen. It is how a society breathes, and it is a key pillar of building civil societies."
Without Free Media, Everyone Suffers ( April 18, 2012) - The "Free the Press" campaign focuses on the many ways in which journalists around the world are under duress, ranging from laws restricting freedom of expression on the Internet, to intimidation, threats and fines, to mysterious and frightening "disappearances."
Women War Correspondents on the Front Lines (March 2, 2012) - Today, women journalists are among the first to report from flash points across the world — unpredictable war zones such as Libya and Syria, or crises in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Paying the Ultimate Price for the Freedom of Information (February 22, 2012) - American journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed February 22 when a Syrian military shell hit their makeshift media center in Homs. It was another reminder to the world that real people sometimes pay the ultimate price to provide information that governments, corporations, security forces, gangs, thugs and others would prefer to remain unknown.
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
A Responsible Press Office in the Digital Age (April 2012) - This updated edition of the 2001 handbook A Responsible Press Office: An Insider's Guide explores the relationship between government officials and the modern news media. A Responsible Press Office in the Digital Age provides guidance to government communicators about how to use social and digital media to provide the public with accurate and timely information concerning public policies, laws, programs and actions.
Media Law Handbook (December 2010) - What are the privileges and responsibilities of a free press? In Media Law Handbook, Professor Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, explores how free societies answer this question.
Handbook of Independent Journalism (April 2008) - This handbook covers what every professional journalist should know — from how to research, write, and edit a story to how to write headlines, choose graphics, and select quotes and sound bites. Print, radio, TV, and Web-based journalism are discussed in detail, as well as the skills required in beat reporting.
PHOTO GALLERY
Evolving Media and a Free Press (April 2, 2012) - Take a look at developments in media technology since the 18th century and how they were put to use by reporters enjoying freedom of the press.
Women War Correspondents (March 13, 2012) - The 20th century saw women come into their own as war correspondents, but not without struggle for a place beside the men. World War II offered new opportunities for women journalists, and some of the best war coverage of that era came from women. Now new generations using new technologies carry on the courageous work of their predecessors.
---------------------------------------------------
NOW AVAILABLE AT THE IRC!
These resources on press freedom are readily available at the IRC for your research and pleasure – free of charge! All you need to do is become our member, and that's free, too! Simply call 02-205-4174 or write irc@state.gov for more details on our membership policy.
Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year: 2012 Edition
Brooks, Charles J
Politics and the Press in Thailand: Media Machinations
McCargo, Duncan
Power of the News Media
Henderson, Harry
The First Amendment and the Media: Free Speech and Free Press at the Millennium
Kaplar, Richard T.//Abrams, Floyed
The Press and America: An Interpretive History of the Mass Media
Emery, Michael C.//Emery, Edwin//Roberts, Nancy L.
The Free and Open Press: The Founding of American Democratic Press Liberty, 1640-1800
Martin, Richard W. T