WAN dedicates Press Freedom Day to "Journalists in the Firing Line”

WAN, which represents 18,000 newspapers worldwide, is dedicating its 2009 World Press Freedom Day campaign to "Journalists in the Firing Line”, and is producing editorials, advertisements, political cartoons, interviews and other materials for publication in newspapers and other media on 3 May.

Newspapers wishing to view, download and publish the materials, free of charge, can find them at www.worldpressfreedomday.org. The materials will be offered in English, French, Spanish, and Russian, but WAN encourages newspapers to translate them into other languages as well.

"Day after day, journalists investigate and file reports on issues they know can lead to harassment, physical retaliation, arrest, prison and even death. On World Press Freedom Day, newspapers can help their readers better understand the contributions these journalists make to their societies, and the dangers they face in doing so,” said Timothy Balding, the CEO of the Paris-based WAN.

“Journalists in many countries are threatened, attacked and even murdered when they carry out their essential role of investigating corruption, organised crime, political violence and other acts carried out by those who fear exposure,” said Balding. “In most of these cases, the perpetrators of these crimes go unpunished.

“The majority of the world's population does not enjoy the basic human right of freedom of expression, and journalists who are courageous enough to report on sensitive issues in repressive countries are often ‘rewarded' with a jail sentence, or worse,” he said.

More that 70 journalists were killed world-wide last year, at least 670 were arrested, and 125 remain in prison.