A Philippine court’s recent acquittal of prominent journalist Maria Ressa over tax evasion has renewed calls for press freedom to be safeguarded. Ressa, who has had a powerful perch in the journalistic world for decades, insists freedom of the press is vital for the truth to be known and holding ruling governments accountable – in other words, the checks and balances between journalism and government. But one question is swirling: Why is press freedom still being stifled in some countries?
(Courtesy: NY Times)
The dictionary meaning of “freedom of the press” is that the right of communication and expression of news, via printed or electronic media, without being controlled by the government. Press freedom technically allows journalists and nowadays even self-proclaimed freelancers to share and cover facts without being censored.
One possible reason why press freedom may be smothered is that journalists are lavishing their coverage on news unfavourable to the government. For example, when Hong Kong’s government lobbied for legislation on curbing electronic cigarettes back in 2018, opposition was inevitable, somewhat. That was why the government went on to convince citizens and lawmakers who opposed of its benefits. The same process has long repeated itself in many other countries whenever new laws are introduced. But there are times when the press partly violates impartiality by lavishing their coverage on the voices of those opposed. This would inevitably slow down the government’s progress on pushing forward its agenda. While the press may not have contributed entirely to that, the government may still try to control press freedom to muzzle unfavourable news so as to move forward.
To follow that up, press freedom is sometimes mistakenly blamed for feeding misinformation and disinformation because of people who spread lies in its name. As Maria Ressa mentioned in her new book entitled “How to Stand Up to a Dictator”, studies have suggested that anger- and hate-laden lies have spread faster and farther than facts. Press freedom has allowed the facts to be known, and in turn, the truth to be told. While press freedom applies mostly to journalists and media who aim to tell the truth and crush lies, there are haters who try to spread lies in the name of press freedom. Take the raid of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort as an example, haters, in the name of press freedom, began spreading hate among Twitter users against the FBI and Justice Department after the raid. They alleged the Biden administration was trying to stop Trump from making a White House comeback. As we can see, press freedom was abused because people did not understand its importance – it allows facts, not lies, to triumph.
In some aspects, the interpretation of the principle of “press freedom” and loose safeguards have caused press freedom to be wrongly stifled. It is about time governments worldwide stepped up education of citizens and especially journalists about the true principle of freedom of the press that allows facts to be known, and ensured such a freedom is guaranteed. Legislation is needed to punish people who exploit press freedom to their advantage.
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