World Press Freedom Day (May 3): A Global Reflection on Free Expression
by Fiifi Netty
11 May 2026
World Press Freedom Day is a global observance established by the United Nations. It was proclaimed in 1993 by the UN General Assembly to celebrate the role of the media, with the first official commemoration held on May 3, 1994.
As we mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day and celebrate journalists around the world, we must not forget that many of our colleagues remain imprisoned, while others face serious challenges in the line of duty—especially in conflict zones or when reporting on issues of public interest and holding governments accountable. Some have even lost their lives in the pursuit of truth, exposing wrongdoing within the system.
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Concerns about free speech or expression and the independence of journalists remain urgent worldwide. Many have faced persecution, while others have been silenced in the line of duty—simply for exercising their right to speak freely, uncover the truth, and report on issues of public and national interest. A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists indicates that 129 journalists and media workers were killed globally in 2025 while carrying out their work, underscoring the gravity of the situation for the profession.
As we observe World Press Freedom Day, I engaged colleagues journalists from different countries, including Ghana, who shared valuable insights into the state of press freedom in their respective environments.
Mr. Bright Blewu a veteran journalist with over four decades of journalism experience, the longest-serving GJA General Secretary and the only person to have served as both General Secretary and the Director of the GiPC said, "if I should confine my self to the period starting from the advent of the 1992 Constitution, and taking the letter and spirit of that document into account, then I will say it has been a bumpy ride. Our performance has been characterised by wide swings and turns that indicate inconsistency in our performance."
He added that Ghana's ranking on the annual world press freedom index, compiled by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders(RSF) show that to be the case. We hit a low of 103, our lowest, among a total of 180 countries and territories evaluated and ranked in 2023. Our best performance was in 2018 when we were 23rd in the world and the best in Africa.
It is true that generally, our rank has been among the top performers in Africa, but that has not been indomitable. Countries like Mauritius, the Seychelles, Namibia, Botswana and Cape Verde have sometimes left us behind he added.
There have been so many fluctuations over the period that leaves much to be desired. There was a marked decline in our performance, starting from 2022 where we could only attain the 60th position. We further sunk to the 72nd position in 2024. These fluctuations have become a regular feature of our performance. They have often been caused by violations of journalists' safety, violent physical attacks on the media and subtle interference in the work of journalists he said.
Mr Blewu added that ownership of media has also indirectly played a role. A significant number of politicians own media outlets, and some use them sometimes to engage in unethical journalism and for stirring up provocations that result in disaffection for the media. If press freedom is to improve, then there is need for greater commitment by media personnel, especially journalists, to the ethics of their profession, a loyalty by owners of media and personnel to accountability and for both governments and the people to raise their tolerance level and grant journalists the benefit of the doubt to operate in freedom for the public good.
Engy Abdelwahab, a senior journalist with Al-Masry, noted that press freedom in Egypt is a complex and evolving issue, much like in many other countries.
She explained that Egypt’s media landscape comprises a wide range of newspapers, television channels, and digital platforms operating within a regulated legal and institutional framework. At the same time, journalists face significant professional and structural challenges, including balancing national laws, editorial policies, and the demands of responsible reporting.
According to her, ongoing discussions within the media community focus on expanding professional freedoms while maintaining stability and social responsibility. Like many nations, Egypt continues efforts to improve media practices, strengthen journalistic professionalism, and develop its media environment.
She added that journalists everywhere strive for greater space for expression and press freedom while working within the realities of their respective national contexts—an experience shared across many media systems globally.
Denisa Petrilakova, a fellow journalist from the Czech Republic, says the current media environment is increasingly complex. While a degree of press freedom exists, it often depends on securing independent funding.
According to her, journalists who do not align with dominant narratives risk being sidelined, as mainstream outlets may label neutral reporting or balanced opinions as “pro-Russian.”
She notes that this trend extends into policy discourse as well. A Czech researcher writing for the European Council on Foreign Relations argued that expressing support for China could be interpreted as indirectly serving Russian interests—an assertion she finds difficult to reconcile.
Despite these challenges, Petrilakova says her media platform, GNEWS.CZ, continues to grow steadily, attracting over 400,000 unique visitors each month and generating more than two million views. “We’ll see how it develops,” she adds.
A journalist colleague from Mali spoke on the condition of anonymity, says press freedom in the country is steadily declining. Media shutdowns, arrests of journalists, and growing self-censorship have created a difficult environment for the profession.
He cited the case of Youssouf Sissoko, editor of Alternance, who has been in detention since February 5. He faces charges from the cybercrime unit, including undermining the state’s reputation, insulting the head of state, and defamation.
According to the source, Mali has not provided press subsidies since 2020, and many journalists operate without adequate safety or protection. The situation, he noted, is increasingly alarming, with reporters finding it difficult to cover sensitive issues or pursue in-depth investigations. As a result, self-censorship has become widespread. He added that journalists in Mali now face a delicate and risky task—balancing the need to report the truth with concerns about national stability.
Kirtan Bhana, a senior colleague with over four decades of journalism experience, asked whether the press has ever truly been “free,” or has it always been a terrain of contestation, an evolving battleground of power, persuasion, and public memory? Absolute press freedom has rarely existed in practice. Media ecosystems are shaped by ownership structures, political economies, cultural norms and ideological currents. Conglomerates influence editorial priorities; governments regulate, sometimes overreach; religious institutions frame moral narratives; and artists, poets, musicians, actors reshape public consciousness in ways no newsroom can fully contain he said
Freedom of the press, then, is not a static condition but a negotiated space one that must be defended, expanded, and constantly interrogated, he indicated
Its media history lays bare this tension. Under apartheid, information was engineered to sustain minority rule. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) functioned as a state-aligned mouthpiece, while mechanisms like the Bureau for Information and covert “Stratcom” campaigns weaponised disinformation to delegitimise resistance movements and sanitize repression he said.
Legislation such as the Suppression of Communism Act and sweeping emergency regulations ensured that dissenting voices were silenced, publications banned, and narratives tightly controlled. Even where resistance existed within segments of the press, censorship and self-preservation often diluted its reach. Yet, repression bred counter-narratives, he continued.
Bhana described that the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission reshaped the role of the media in a democratic society. With Section 16 of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression, the press was repositioned as a watchdog rather than an instrument of the state.
Since 1994, investigative journalism has played a critical role in exposing corruption—particularly during the era of state capture. South Africa’s relatively strong global press freedom rankings point to a media landscape that is dynamic, assertive and vital to democratic accountability.
However, this freedom has not come without pressure. The media landscape remains robust, but it requires vigilance. Press freedom cannot be reduced to rankings or legal provisions; it lives in the daily practice of journalism, the integrity of institutions, and the critical engagement of citizens he said.
The lesson from history is instructive, in which information systems can be captured, but they can also be reclaimed. Beyond Freedom, Toward Responsibility.
He noted that World Press Freedom Day serves as a moment of reflection. South Africa’s transition—from a propaganda-driven system to one rooted in pluralistic debate—highlights both the vulnerability and resilience of its media landscape.
The future will not hinge on achieving perfect press freedom—something that has never truly existed—but on maintaining a press that is independent, credible, and bold enough to serve the public interest.
