World Press Freedom Day 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
The Courage of Local Voices
The painstaking work of proper journalism is the bedrock of our freedoms.
 | Anthony Borden IWPR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
Local journalism is living with and being part of a community, finding your best courage and skill to give it voice, suffering with that community, too.
On this World Press Freedom Day, we grapple to come to terms with the scale of journalists lost in Gaza – estimated at 100. Many of these were not out on the street reporting but, according to best available information, were killed in the places where they were staying, homes or elsewhere.
"Amid a world of challenges confronting the global information landscape, media face rising threats."
“Everyone Has a Family in Danger”
How local journalists cover the story amid intense physical and mental danger for themselves - and their loved ones.
 | Daniella Peled IWPR MANAGING EDITOR |
The war in Gaza has had a devastating impact on the Palestinian journalists struggling to cover the conflict. More than 100 have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Suhaib Salem, Reuters head of visuals in Gaza, told IWPR managing editor Daniella Peled about the challenges of working to ensure professional coverage of the war while trying to keep colleagues and their families safe. He was evacuated from Gaza in late December 2023 but continues to cover the conflict.
“You need water to drink and food to eat if you want to carry on reporting.”
Israel’s Media Blindness Over Gaza
Why there’s such a gap between what Israelis and the rest of the world see on their TV screens and social media feeds.
 | Esther Solomon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, HAARETZ ENGLISH EDITION |
Here are just a few snapshots of the state of freedom of expression in Israel during the Gaza war:
A Palestinian academic who teaches at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University is arrested for making “statements against Zionism”. An Israeli photojournalist is attacked and beaten by a mob of 30 settlers. A young protester at a ceasefire demonstration is arrested for calling the far-right national security minister a “criminal.” A member of parliament narrowly avoids expulsion for supporting the case at The Hague accusing Israel of genocide. A law is passed allowing the government to ban Al Jazeera. Four Israeli journalists are killed by Hamas; around 100 journalists are killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza.
“Israel’s media has largely chosen to self-censor its coverage of Gaza.”
Ukraine’s Information Vacuum
Those living under occupation can only get their news from Russian media and social networks.
 | Olga Golovina IWPR EDITORIAL COORDINATOR |
Accessing independent information in the occupied parts of Ukraine – where Russia controls all internet providers, telecommunication services and media – is both a complicated and dangerous affair.
The only way to access Ukrainian content is, for example, to disable the Russian mobile phone card, set up a reliable VPN, go to the internet via Wi-Fi and turn on the VPN. In addition, if de facto officials later find a VPN or other signs that the individual has viewed “banned” content, they face arrest.
“All residents of the occupied territories are hostages, and access to media is just one manifestation of this."
Journalism Amid the Darkness
Despite brutal repression, independent outlets continue to provide a rare and precious source of information.
 | Zaki Daryabi FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF ETILLAT ROZ NEWSPAPER |
Long before the Taleban takeover on August 15, 2021, Afghanistan’s media faced harsh criticism from its citizens.
Ordinary people complained that it was ineffective in holding the powerful to account, while officials in turn decried journalists for, as they saw it, failing to appreciate the government’s achievements. The then-president, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, once famously joked in a speech that the media was “as ineffective as the wind,” with no useful role or impact.
There was little appreciation from any quarter of the unprecedented flourishing of a sector unheard of before the fall of the first Taleban regime in 2001. But with the Taleban’s return and their severe suppression of the press, Afghan society has realised that when the media are silenced, darkness and fear rule.
“Advocates of independent media are depicted as promoters of obscenity and blasphemy.”
Journalism Continues to Hold Power to Account
Despite coming under constant attack, independent media are achieving remarkable impact.
 | Dhaniella Falk LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN PROGRAMME DIRECTOR |
“Countries with the highest levels of corruption overlap with those with the lowest levels of press freedom.”
Pressure Builds on Central Asia Media
Freedom of speech in Central Asia has deteriorated in recent years, with fresh restrictions on media and bloggers alike and a growing number of criminal cases initiated against journalists.
Moldova Struggles to Balance Security and Free Speech
Opinion remains divided on how effective bans on pro-Kremlin outlets have been in protecting country’s information space.
 | Victoria Dodon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM CENTER MOLDOVA |
Immediately following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova declared a state of emergency under which a whole swathe of pro-Russian media was banned.
“Peace and security take precedence over freedom of the press if that press abuses its freedom.”
Press Freedom Struggles in Kenya
Cases of harassment have mounted amid a surge in police brutality as well as overt government antagonism.
 | Francis Odee CONTRIBUTOR |
“Professional journalists should never be attacked while doing our work.”