The United Nation(UN’s) World Press Freedom Day or World Press Day is annually observed across the globe on May 3 emphasizing the significance of press freedom and the safety of journalists globally.
- This annual event, led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), serves as a reminder to governments of their duty to uphold the right to freedom of expression, as enshrined in Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- May 3, 2025, marks the observance of 32nd anniversary of World Press Freedom Day.
2025 Theme:
The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2025 is “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media”
- It highlights how Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms journalism, affects media ethics, and challenges press freedom.
Background:
i.In 1991, UNESCO’s 26th General Conference recommended observing the day on May 3.
ii.In 1993, The UN General Assembly (UNGA) formally proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.
iii.The first World Press Freedom Day was observed on May 3, 1994.
Note: The date, May 3, was chosen to commemorate the Windhoek Declaration adopted in 1991, which advocated for an independent African press during a seminar in Windhoek, Namibia (April 29–May 3, 1991).
Significance:
1.Support Journalists: Address threats like censorship, violence, and legal harassment.
2.Honor Fallen Journalists: In 2024, 82 journalists were killed globally, up from 74 in 2023.
3.Promote Media Pluralism: Reinforce the 1994 Santiago Declaration (adopted in Santiago, Chile) on cultural, linguistic, and gender diversity in media.
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2025:
i.In 2025, UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize have been named to La Prensa, a Managua (Nicaragua)-based newspaper, recognized for resilience amid repression.
- La Prensa has faced numerous challenges, including censorship, asset confiscation (2021), and the imprisonment of its journalists. Despite these obstacles, the newspaper has continued its commitment to independent journalism.
ii.The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on 7 May 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, alongside the World Conference on Press Freedom.
iii.The award carries a monetary prize of USD 25,000.
About UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize :
i.The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honors individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the defense of press freedom, especially under dangerous circumstances.
ii.Named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist assassinated in 1986 in front of his newspaper’s offices, EI Espectador, in Bogota (Colombia).
iii.It was established in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board and is formally conferred by UNESCO each year on World Press Freedom Day(May 3).
iv.The sponsors of the Prize include the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), Namibia Media Trust, Democracy & Media Foundation Stichting Democratie & Media (The Netherlands), and the Thomson Reuters Foundation (The United Kingdom, UK).
2025 Events:
UNESCO will host a global event on 7 May 2025 at Bozar, Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium, to explore the profound impact of AI on journalism, media, and human rights.
WPFI 2025: Norway Tops; India Climbs to 151st Rank
On May 2, 2025, Paris (France) based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) 2025, evaluating press freedom across 180 countries. The average score of all assessed countries drops to 54.7, categorizing the global situation as “difficult” for the first time.
- Norway topped the index with a score of 92.31 for the 9th consecutive year followed by Estonia (2nd) and the Netherlands (3rd).
- India improved its position to 151st, up from 159th in 2024. Despite this progress, India remains in the “very serious” category, indicating ongoing challenges to media freedom.
Highlights:
i.The 2025 index underscores a global trend of declining press freedom, with economic fragility identified as a leading threat. RSF emphasizes that financial independence is crucial for ensuring free and trustworthy journalism.
ii.The countries among the top 10 are Denmark (6th), Ireland (7th), Portugal (8th), Switzerland (9th) and Czechia (10th)
iii.India’s score stands at 32.96 with particularly low ratings in the political (24.30) and economic (28.46) indicators.
iv.Within South Asia, India’s press freedom ranking is lower than several neighboring countries like Nepal (90th), Maldives (104th), Sri Lanka (139th) and Bangladesh (149th).
v.However, India ranks higher than Bhutan (152nd), Pakistan (158th), Myanmar (169th), Afghanistan (175th), and China (178th).
vi.The bottom five countries are: Iran ranked 176th with a global score of 16.22; Syria(15.82) at 177th; China(14.8) at 178th; North Korea(12.64) at 179th; and Eritrea(11.32) in last place at 180th .
Top 5 in WPFI 2025:
| Rank | Country | Global Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 92.31 |
| 2 | Estonia | 89.46 |
| 3 | The Netherlands | 88.64 |
| 4 | Sweden | 88.13 |
| 5 | Finland | 87.18 |
| 151 | India | 32.96 |
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG) – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1945
