Hundreds of journalists from across the world have gathered in Ghana’s capital city of Accra, to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
“Keeping power in check: media, justice and the rule of law” is the theme chosen for the four-day event. The main highlights include plenary sessions to discuss new challenges to press freedom and freedom of expression, covering of elections and electoral campaigns.
The right to information and how freedom of information laws could contribute to sustainable development in Africa, artistic freedom in the digital age, investigation journalism: ethics and risk mitigation, restricting the free flow of information through internet shutdowns and service restrictions would also feature prominently.
Sexual and gender-based harassment in the media, new threats to journalism and the re-positioning of Africa through press photography and videography would come up for discussion.
Added to these is a debate on whether online speech needs regulation or self-regulation.
There would also be a joint launch of the UNESCO report on “World trends in freedom of expression and media development” and the UNESCO global report “Re/shaping cultural policies”.
Another highpoint of the celebration would be the Award ceremony of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
Created in 1997, the prize honours a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and, or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, and especially when it has been achieved in the face of danger.
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