Freedom of the Press and Self-Publishing:
– Freedom of the press enables authors to have their works published by others.
– A. J. Liebling’s quote emphasizes the importance of owning a press for press freedom.
– Publishers hold exclusive control over publication decisions.
– Authors turn to self-publishing if agreements with publishers cannot be reached.
– It is a right for authors to have their works published by others.
Global Status of Press Freedom:
– Organizations like Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Freedom House monitor press freedom.
– Metrics include journalists’ safety, censorship, and media independence.
– Reports rank countries annually based on press freedom.
– Concerns are raised about the safety of journalists globally.
– The 2023 World Press Freedom Index categorizes countries based on press freedom levels.
Journalists’ Safety and Imprisonment:
– The Committee to Protect Journalists compiles annual lists of killed and jailed journalists.
– In 2019, around 25 journalists were killed on duty.
– Reporters Without Borders reported 49 killings in 2019.
– Turkey, China, and Egypt accounted for over half of jailed journalists in 2017.
– The World Press Freedom Index categorizes countries based on press freedom levels.
Press Freedom Assessment and Rankings:
– Freedom House’s annual report evaluates press freedom levels worldwide.
– Countries are classified based on freedom scores ranging from 1 to 100.
– Nations are categorized into different types based on their press freedom levels.
– The report provides subjective assessments of press freedom.
– Yearly rankings of countries based on press freedom are available.
Press Freedom in Democratic and Non-Democratic States:
– A free press is essential for a healthy democracy.
– Journalism serves as a watchdog for government actions.
– Government influence on news content can hinder public access to information.
– Independent press enhances political knowledge and voter turnout.
– Press involvement drives civic participation.
– Non-democratic states like Turkey, China, Egypt, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia had a significant number of imprisoned journalists in 2018.
– State-run news agencies in non-democratic countries often promote propaganda.
– Journalists in non-democratic systems face intimidation and violence.
– Central, Northern, and Western Europe have a history of free speech and press freedom.
– Media freedom is a fundamental right in the EU and its member states.
– The UK has a long-standing tradition of a free press without constitutional guarantees.
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely. Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through the constitution or other legal protection and security. It is in opposition to paid press, where communities, police organizations, and governments are paid for their copyrights.
Without respect to governmental information, any government may distinguish which materials are public or protected from disclosure to the public. State materials are protected due to either one of two reasons: the classification of information as sensitive, classified, or secret, or the relevance of the information to protecting the national interest. Many governments are also subject to "sunshine laws" or freedom of information legislation that define the ambit of national interest and enable citizens to request access to government-held information.
The United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers."
This philosophy is usually accompanied by legislation ensuring various degrees of freedom of scientific research (known as scientific freedom), publishing, and the press. The depth to which these laws are entrenched in a country's legal system can go as far down as its constitution. The concept of freedom of speech is often covered by the same laws as freedom of the press, thereby giving equal treatment to spoken and published expression. Freedom of the press was formally established in Great Britain with the lapse of the Licensing Act in 1695. Sweden was the first country in the world to adopt freedom of the press into its constitution with the Freedom of the Press Act of 1766.
English
Wikiquote
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɹiː.dəm əv ðə ˈpɹɛs/
Noun
freedom of the press (uncountable)
- The right of citizens or the media to print, or otherwise disseminate, speech, ideas and opinions without fear or harm of prosecution.
