KOTA KINABALU – The United Nations has called the media the “world’s greatest ally”, as reliable information becomes harder to get.
In a message in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is threatening the survival of the press, while access to reliable information is getting increasingly difficult to secure as countries tighten their budgets.
This is on top of the restrictions, harassment, detention, censorship, and even death threats that journalists face these days, he said.
“The situation continues to worsen. The economic impact of the pandemic is slapping their very survival. As the budget tightens, so does access to reliable information.
Rumours, falsehoods and extremely divisive opinions now fill the gaps. A free and independent media is our greatest ally in combating disinformation and misinformation.”
This year’s World Press Freedom Day is themed “Information as a public good”, and the UN offices in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei have put together a virtual forum.
The forum is organised by the Dutch embassy, the UN in Malaysia and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, and supported by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Stefan Priesner said there is a need to adhere to international standards on the implementation of anti-fake news laws in the country.
Such standards require these laws to be clear and unambiguous, and the punitive measures taken must be proportionate to the offences committed, he said.
Citing the realisation of media freedom as a work in progress, Priesner expressed hope that legislation hampering media freedom can be repealed or amended to ensure the right to information and freedom of the press are fully respected.
While media freedom is needed, he said, it comes with responsibility and accountability.
He said media practitioners are responsible for reporting with due diligence and authenticity, so as to prevent the proliferation of fake news.
Many countries have introduced laws against fake news because of the free dissemination of information via social media, he added.
“The right to information can be fulfilled only in an environment where the media operates freely as the vehicle to disseminate information.
“For this, three criteria need to be promoted: a supportive legal environment, economic enablers, and a firewall to political influence.” – The Vibes, May 3, 2021
