Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Some Thoughts on World Press Freedom Day!
By Maurice Ali
World Press Freedom Day arrived on May 3rd of this year and I would just like to make a few comments on the activities of that day.
First, you will note that at IAIJ we sometimes observe the day formally but mostly do not. If you wonder why, I would reply that to us, every day is World Press Freedom Day. As an international journalist association, we don’t think about it one day a year but every day of the year! However, the point here is to make the point that World Press Freedom Day is a 365 day thing at IAIJ!
We are a new form of journalist association born through the internet advocating that anyone can be a journalist as a citizen journalist or blogger, and we actually have helped make some inroads in getting citizen journalists and bloggers recognized as legitimate media workers, at least at the United Nations and UNESCO.
We are not a traditional journalist association, but a new kind not afraid to try new things. So the way we do things and the way we advocate are new, but always revolve around freedom of expression. Not just press freedom, because our belief is that anyone can be a member of the press and therefore press freedom is actually freedom of expression for all. It is as basic as that, so in the end it is simply known as freedom of expression. Freedom of expression in all its forms as free expression contributes to increasing the sum total of knowledge and opinion to make the best decisions and get the best answers to all the problems that may befall humanity. Advocating for freedom of expression, in all its forms, is the best way to ensure freedom of the press, and this ultimately results in self-determination for all, and the best part is that it also makes us happy!
Every day is World Press Freedom Day!
IAIJ: JOURNALISTS IN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD! |
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