Skopje, 3 May 2020 – Every year, on May the 3rd, we celebrate the fundamental principles and independence of media, assessing their freedom and paying tribute to the journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. At the same time, this day serves as a reminder of the role that media play in the development of democracy and of the governments’ commitment to respect their freedom.
This year, the World Press Freedom Day is marked under the motto “Journalism without Fear or Favour,” focusing on the fact that independent media, free from all kinds of pressure, play a key role in making informed decisions and in ensuring the institutions’ transparency and accountability.
In a situation where the COVID-19 pandemic is dictating the pace of life, timely, reliable information and their free flow are essential to facing, understanding and overcoming the crisis. A professional, ethical and accurate reporting contributes not only to the prevention of and dealing with the disease, but also to the exposure of disinformation and false medical advice that may endanger our health. That is why it is necessary to ensure free and equal access to information and not to restrict the journalists’ freedom of movement.
On this occasion, we repeat once again that it is essential to invest maximum efforts to ensure protection and safety for the media workers as they perform their professional duties.