Friday May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day.

Already there is one item we, in the
press, can celebrate:

Fewer journalists killed compared to
previous year!

The lower intensity of conflict in
Syria and Iraq has contributed to this decrease, observes PEC.

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) noted
with satisfaction a decrease in the number of journalists killed so
far in the year compared with the same period last year.

On the occasion of World Press Freedom
Day, the PEC noted a 56% decrease registering 20 victims in 12
countries from January 1 to April 30 against 46 during the same
period last year, using the same metrics. The figure is the lowest
figure since 2006.

PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen
observed the lower intensity of conflict in Syria and Iraq
contributed to this decrease. In addition, the continuous engagement
of governments, associations and civil society in favor of the issue
of the safety of journalists has certainly produced positive effects.
It is also true that other means are used to neutralize journalists.

The situation remains steadily hostile
in Mexico with six journalists killed and Afghanistan with four
killed, which adds up to half the victims since the beginning of
2019.

One journalist was killed in the
following countries: Ghana, Honduras, India, Iraq, Northern Ireland,
Kenya, Libya, Pakistan, the Philippines and Yemen.

The PEC strongly condemns the killings
and calls for quick identification of the killers and bringing them
to justice.

SOURCE:
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/event/2019/05/02/world-press-freedom-day-2019

From UNESCO:

The
main celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2019 will take place in
Addis Ababa, from 1 to 3 May 2019. The event will provide a platform
for multiple actors to exchange on current issues, threats and
achievements concerning freedom of the press.

The
overall theme of the event will be the role of media in elections and
democracy. A wide range of sessions (plenaries, debates, lightning
talks, etc.) will address different aspects of the overall theme.

Some
100 national events around the world are expected to complement the
main celebration.

The
attendance of the UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, as well as
of high-level government representatives is expected. Participants
will also include representatives of civil society, media
organizations, professional associations, academia and the judiciary.

On
2 May, the UNESCO Director-General will award the UNESCO/Guillermo
Cano World Press Freedom Prize to an individual or organization that
has made an outstanding contribution to the defence of press freedom.

The
event will also host an academic conference on the safety of
journalists which will allow researchers from different disciplines
to share and discuss recent research. This will be the fourth edition
of the conference, aimed at bridging the gap between academic
research, policy-making and journalism.

As
in the previous years, WPFD will host a Youth Newsroom, which will
bring on board young journalists and journalism students to cover the
event and expand their reporting skills.

A
number of cultural events and performances will be included in the
programme.

END

What
are we celebrating here?

Our
Press Freedom.

No
journalist has been murdered for trying to do his job here.

That's what I'm celebrating.

NOTE: I cannot comment on what our Governor has said as it is embargoed until after midnight tonight. Please do read it.