World Press Freedom Day is an annual event instituted by the United Nations in 1993 to highlight the importance of the Press in development.
In a release signed by the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra state council, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinach the theme of this year’s event “Media and Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of disinformation” underlines the crucial role of the Press in building inclusive societies and fostering peace in the world.
Coming on the heels of Nigeria General Elections, the release noted that the Anniversary stresses the need for all stakeholders to recognize the importance of Journalists and the need for concerted efforts to confront all forms of impunity against Journalists and other media workers.
It therefore urged the public, particularly Security agencies to synergize with media professionals at this trying time of the Nation’s history in order to ensure lasting peace and sustainable development adding that safety of Journalists, being a humanitarian and professional concern, should be everybody’s concern too.
The release also called on all hands to be on deck to confront the menace of fake news and hate speech which constitute abuse of professionalism and ethics of Journalism advising practitioners to give precedence to their personal safety as well as obey the code of ethics of the profession.
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