Happy World Press Freedom Day! - 3 May 2010

Today supporters of media freedom globally celebrate World Press Freedom Day through various events raising awareness that media freedom is a right and not a privilege. In Africa, Swaziland is hosting a media ethics workshop to mark the day while Namibia will host a conference focusing on access to information and women's rights in particular toward the end of the week.

Malawi held three separate events with today being the main event in Blantyre that will include a march, social football match, debate and an awards gala. Among other events in South Africa, GCAP-South Africa partners National Welfare Forum (NWF) and IPS Africa are hosting an interactive platform celebrating World Press Day with civil society and the media in Johannesburg. The celebration plans to include media and civil society presentations, dialogue sessions and entertainment.

Zimbabwe too is making progress on its media freedom objectives with the vast reduction in media licensing fees. Announced late last week, the move is part of a bid to reform the country's harsh media laws and is definitely a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately the scales still tip unfavourably as while celebrations continue worldwide and steps are implemented to bring about greater media freedom, it is daunting to note that according to US watchdog, Freedom House, only one in six people in the world lives in a country with a free press.

On a brighter note, World Cup fans may now download the official World Cup Fan Guide that contains information on stadiums, host cities, fan parks and more.