For the 25th edition of World Press Freedom Day, almost 40 news organisations worldwide have come together to honour the global efforts for press freedom. Starting today, the campaign advertises slogans encouraging readers to look beyond their customary paper and to actively engage with alternative news sources. Building on the intention that consulting a plurality of media, arguments and facts creates a better informed citizenry, the “Media Unite for Press Freedom” campaign turns the spotlight on the crucial role that a free and independent press plays in democracies.
Participating organizations have built a coalition to support UNESCO’s commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2018. The message is simple and thought-provoking: Read more. Listen more. Understand more. It all starts with a free press.
It will be featured at the global celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Accra on 3 May, which convenes over 900 media professionals, government representatives and stakeholders from civil society and intergovernmental organisations. The campaign’s message will closely align with this year’s theme “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law”.
The common interest is that a critical and informed civil society helps to ensure transparency of political processes and state institutions that are accountable towards the public.
The campaign will appear on the platforms of the following international news organisations: The Atlantic, Baltimore Sun, BBC News, Beacon News, Capital Gazette, Carroll County Times, Chicago Tribune, CNN, The Courier News, Daily Press, Daily Southtown, The Economist, Financial Times, The Guardian, Hartford Courant, Helsingin Sanomat, IPS World News, Lake County News Sun, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, The Morning Call, Naperville Sun, National Review, NBC News, New York Daily News, New York magazine, The New York Times. The New Yorker, NPR, Orlando Sentinel, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Post Tribune, Rappler, Repubblica, Sun Sentinel, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal.
This campaign was initiated by the creative agency Droga5 and builds on support of its media partners and all those who join World Press Freedom Day 2018 around the globe. Check out our campaign here.
Contact person: Saorla McCabe, s.mccabe@unesco.org