World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day History

World Press Freedom Day acts as a reminder of the importance of a free press in a functioning and safe society and serves to commemorate the journalists who have lost their lives in support of the free press. In a time when media coverage is prone to fear-mongering and sensationalism, taking the time to appreciate and seek out journalism with integrity has never been more important. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

World Press Freedom Day was established in 1993 by the UN General Assembly. This day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of press freedom principles put together by African journalists in 1991 to promote an independent and pluralistic African press. This day is observed annually on May 3.

Facts & quotes about World Press Freedom Day

• The theme for World Press Freedom Day in 2025 was A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis. In 2024 the theme was A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.
  In 2023 the theme was Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights.
• According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 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 and regardless of frontiers. – Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• UNESCO confers the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to a deserving individual, organization, or institution in the field. The prize is named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated outside his newspaper in 1986 having offended powerful drug lords.
• Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose - George Orwell
• Quality journalism enables citizens to make informed decisions about their society’s development. It also works to expose injustice, corruption, and the abuse of power. For this, journalism must be able to thrive, in an enabling environment in which they can work independently and without undue interference and in conditions of safety - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein

In the News and Trending in the US for World Press Freedom Day

Top things to do in the US for World Press Freedom Day

• Get your inner journalist active on social media. The internet has given birth to a citizen journalist movement that harnesses the power of millions who previously had no voice. We all have cameras in our pockets and access to an audience of millions on social media.
• Attend an event. There are dozens of events celebrating WPFD, these conferences bring together journalists and media workers to discuss current issues. UNESCO offers more info.
• Take advantage of your rights and write a blog or social media post on something that you feel strongly about. Freedom of speech is a crucial component of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The internet has made sharing ideas with a wide audience the easiest it has ever been in history.
• Watch a documentary about the media and press freedoms. Some of our favorites: Spotlight (2015), Bowling for Columbine (2002), Page One: Inside the New York Times (2011), or Weapons of Mass Deception (2004).
• Read a book that tackles issues relating to freedom of expression. The famous works of George Orwell’s 1984, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World or Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail can offer some alternative perspectives on the function of media in society.