WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Governance)

Context: World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd, recently celebrated the fundamental principles of press freedom, emphasizing their vital importance.

World Press Freedom Day 2024

• About: Every May 3, the global community observes Press Freedom Day.
• Origin: The concept of World Press Freedom Day originated during a UNESCO conference in Namibia in 1991.

oIt was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993.

• 2024 Theme: A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.’
• 2023 Theme: Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights.
• Global Significance: The day underscores the critical importance of press freedom worldwide.
• Challenges: It serves to acknowledge and address the various challenges faced by journalists.
• Tribute: Press Freedom Day also honors the memory of journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
• UN Declaration: Initially proposed in 1991 at a UNESCO session, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared World Press Freedom Day in 1993.

World Press Freedom Index

• Origin: The WPFI was initiated in 2002 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
• Coverage: It assesses countries' press freedom performance in the preceding year.
• Purpose: The index aims to highlight the status of press freedom globally.
• Five categories: Political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context and security. 

oScores for India dropped (worsened) in all but the security indicator.

• India’s rank: Improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024.