World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day

The thirty-first annual World Press Freedom Day will be held on May 3.  It is a time to reflect on the quality and adequacy of information about events and situations that impact our lives in Canada.  Consider the role of journalists and news organizations in obtaining information, obstacles that impede the publication of information that impacts the well-being and freedom of people, the health of our environment, and the administration of justice. World Press Freedom Day is also a time to consider the responsibility of each of us in advocating and protecting freedom of the press.

In south-western Ontario communities our news reporters, radio and television stations generally, in my opinion, function quite well.  For example, in London, Mayor Josh Morgan is available weekly on the radio to provide information about local government and respond to citizens who phone in with questions.  Newspapers report information about the administration of justice, safety, environmental, and social issues,  Local radio explores current problems such as public transportation or traffic safety.  Citizens have opportunities to raise concerns through letters to the editor or phone calls to a radio station.

Provincially, information about the public good is less available.  Questions arise about private healthcare facilities unjustly charging patients for services, the sale of public land reserved for green spaces, particular developers being favoured, or the construction of highways that many consider unnecessary.  At the federal level, news organizations and journalists protected by legislation continue to demand answers about matters pertinent to the public good.  Yet the government often fails to respond in a timely or adequate manner.  Long-promised revisions of the Access to Information Act languish.  We are fortunate to have journalists who will investigate questionable situations, and report possible abuses. Public pressure and the persistence of journalists uncover actions that the government attempts to keep secret, such as the interference of foreign governments in elections, and the sale of scientific information and products to China.

Attempts to prevent or block disclosure of information occur for various reasons. Information about safety concerns may result in fines, lawsuits, loss of reputation, votes, business, or jobs.  Competent women are sometimes targeted because they are successful in roles traditionally filled by men such as politicians, police,  airplane pilots, or CEOs. In Ontario, there have been several incidents of local female members of city or town councils being targeted by verbal or physical harm. This discourages women from participating in politics.  Corruption in political leaders may lead to scandal, theft of public funds, or defeat in elections. 

Each of us can help to preserve freedom of information.  One way to do this may be by writing a letter to your local city council or member of parliament about a public concern.  Respectful complaints or inquiries about concerns encourage the provision of civil answers.  Prompt and truthful responses would facilitate trust.  Acknowledging errors, failures, and wrongdoing along with what corrective action is being taken is far more acceptable than denial and procrastination.

Democracy cannot survive without freedom of the Press and protecting this freedom is the responsibility of each one of us. On this World Press Freedom Day, may all of us consider ways in which we can support freedom of the press.

-Sister Patricia McKeon

Images: Patrick Fore, Thomas Charters/Unsplash

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY ~ MAY 3 2019 Theme ~ Media for Democracy:

Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation

What compels journalists to risk their lives to expose oppression and corruption?  Perhaps we who are called to prophetic mission are closer than we might imagine to journalists committed to truth, democracy, human rights and the environment.

For many global citizens, the journey to democracy is fraught with peril.  For those in democratic countries, troubling trends such as intrusive surveillance highlight the need for ongoing vigilance. 

Though sometimes considered meddlesome and even “dispensable”, journalists and news organizations can play a vital role as guardians, informed commentators and advocates.  Their protection and independence are essential for many other freedoms at the heart of democracies.  

This year in Canada, World Press Freedom Day precedes a fall federal election already marked by competing narratives about truth, trust and vision.  Credible voices also warn about potential international interference in our upcoming election.  In the United States, questions still surround the last federal election, while comments about “fake news” abound. 

The United Nations notes that World Press Freedom Day offers opportunities to:

• Celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
• Assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
• Defend the media from attacks on their independence, and
• Pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty (www.un.org).

The observance also highlights Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights upholding the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the right to impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.

In both 2018 and 2019, Reporters Without Borders ranked Canada 18^th out of 180 countries on its World Press Freedom Index.  Overall, the Paris-based organization pointed to a deterioration of media freedom around the world as the number of countries where journalists can work safely declines (rsf.org).  Earlier, the government of Canada announced it will co-host a conference on media freedom with Britain July 10-11 this year in London.

World Press Freedom Day was inspired by the 1991 UNESCO* seminar held in Windhoek, Namibia.  The Windhoek Declaration focused on promoting a free, independent and pluralistic African press.

This year’s international celebrations are being held May 1-3 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.  Globally, about 100 other events are planned to mark the observance, including a celebration May 2 in Ottawa sponsored by the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (www.ccwpf-cclpm.ca).

In his 2019 message for the church’s World Communications Day, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of real -- not only virtual -- human communities.  He highlighted the urgent need for the Internet and social media to be at the service of truth and respectful relationships which foster communion (w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/papa-francesco_20190124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html).

Questions for Reflection

• How does what we read, see and hear through various forms of media shape our perspectives and choices?  How does what we’re not seeing, or hearing do the same?

• Highly concentrated ownership of mainline media in Canada can restrict our sources of information.  What alternative sources of news, information and commentary do/might we choose to explore?

• How might we and our religious/faith communities support and encourage younger media personnel and journalism students?

~ Roma De Robertis, SCIC 

Roma De Robertis is a Sister of Charity of the Immaculate Conception based in Saint John, NB.  She has worked in Catholic journalism and justice and peace ministries.  During her current sabbatical, she has been staying with Sisters of St. Joseph first in North Bay and now in London, ON. 

(*UNESCO is the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization based in Paris, France.)     

The Role of Journalists

The Importance of Journalists and Publishers

My primary purpose for this blog is to affirm the critical value of journalists.  My second purpose is to call attention to the terrible injustice of trafficking labour in Canada. Reading the individual stories of victims in the April 6 and April 8 editions of the Globe and Mail is heart rending. The abuse of unscrupulous traffickers contained in these editions contain horrendous accounts of the kind of abuse we might expect in places where traffickers force immigrants into leaky boats crossing the Caribbean or lead them across the deserts of southern United States.  In this article I wish to applaud the courage and skill of journalists who investigate and write stories of government neglect or abuse, and of the publishers who dare to publish them. We hear of the imprisonment and murders of journalists in Mexico and other countries. We have seen how journalists of investigated and written accounts about such topics as “unfounded” rape charges, money laundering, insurance fraud, solitary confinement, abusive sales of telecommunication packages or bank services have forced governments, corporations, and institutions to change their practices. 

In a time of instant and unreliable spreading of news on social media, we need more than ever to support our journalists and publishers. Political parties promise transparency of government during election campaigns but once in office they tend to make it very difficult, expensive, and time consuming for journalist to access information needed to keep the public informed. Reading reliable newspapers and magazines, writing letters to editors or members of parliament, and supporting responsible broadcast and television stations are some of the ways in which we can protect freedom of speech and promote democracy in Canada.

Trafficking Foreign Workers

In this paragraph, I am simply quoting some phrases and sentences from the April 6 and April 8 editions of the Globe and Mail.  These two editions contain well investigated accounts of how unscrupulous immigration consultants and international recruiters make millions of dollars by enticing thousands of foreigners seeking sustainable employment in Canada to non-existent jobs, uncertified training in career colleges, virtual enslavement, and horrifying living conditions. The Globe’s four-month investigation identified 45 recruiters and consultants “accused of exploiting at least 2,300 people . . . from countries such as India, the Philippines, Mexico, and Guatemala for their money, their labour or both.” . . . “The Trudeau government is well aware, from being told repeatedly in consultations, that some recruits are ending up in dismal situations. Working under intolerable conditions for meager pay. Crammed into wretched temporary housing. Holding a useless career-college diploma and no work permit.”  . . . . “The number of licensed immigration Consultants has doubled to more than 5,000 in the past five years . . . . . “Enforcement is lacking . . . . . “the number of leads that immigration authorities recorded about employment fraud by agents doubled in the past five years – from 153 to 301 – while, inexplicably, the number of investigations went down to 27 from 38.”

Freedom of the press matters. How can each of us support this in our Country?   How will our Government respond to the Globe and Mail’s  reports of abusive treatment of immigrants?

- Sister Pat McKeon

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY is this FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019