Mr Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General, has said that new media complements the conventional media in serving as ‘eyes and ears’ of the society.
In his message on World Press Freedom Day observed across the globe this week the UN Secretary-General says that “the media, including, and increasingly, new on-line media, serve as our eyes and ears. We all benefit from the information they provide.”
[quote font_size=”22″ font_style=”italic” align=”left” bgcolor=”#” color=”#” bcolor=”#” arrow=”yes”]Ban says that “a free, independent and safe media environment is essential” but adds that “all too often, journalists are threatened, harassed, obstructed or even killed in the pursuit of information.”[/quote]Ban says that “a free, independent and safe media environment is essential” but adds that “all too often, journalists are threatened, harassed, obstructed or even killed in the pursuit of information.”
He urged governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent and free media, and expressed serious concern over the increasingly restrictive environment in which media workers operate in many countries.
Ban Ki-Moon says that constraints on freedom of expression placed shackles on progress itself, stressing that Press freedom and the free flow of information are necessary not only to inform citizens about the Goals, but to enable them to hold their leaders accountable for fulfilling the pledges they have made.
He added that human rights, democratic societies and sustainable development depended on the free flow of information, saying that the right to information depends on press freedom.
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