Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day has rolled around once again and arguably, its importance has increased due to the pandemic. As Sri Lanka grapples with a third wave of COVID-19, information has become more important than ever before and crucial to public well-being. 

There are many reasons why World Press Freedom Day is important. It is a day to mark the important role played by journalists, editors and other stakeholders around the world to uphold democracies, speak truth to power and be a voice for the voiceless. The sacrifices made to achieve these goals are many and often go unnoticed but their importance remains undimmed. 

Despite being used to reporting in war zones and political upheavals, it is the pandemic that has perhaps posed the biggest challenges to press freedom. Many journalists work in countries where information is not freely given and governments frequently attempt to hide data that makes them look bad; but in the middle of a pandemic, such avoidance can have deadly consequences. 

The pandemic has also placed a premium on credible information that is delivered efficiently. Unfortunately, news rooms around the world and in Sri Lanka are under intense pressure given pandemic restrictions. Resources are scarce, fact-checking difficult, movement hindered and safety risks have shot through the roof. 

The pandemic has also hit advertising revenue hard, leaving media fighting over scarce resources and barely able to make ends meet. In countries facing forex crunches like Sri Lanka the consequences are even worse with newsprint costs, import restrictions and auxiliary expenses hitting the industry at multiple levels. 

Yet the battle goes on because press freedom is not just for media but also for the public. No matter the challenges the people have a right to know, and it is our job to make sure that right is respected and upheld. In a pandemic, even more so. 

As infection rates climb, and concerns over ICU facilities, medication and vaccinations grows, it is critical that the Government understand that releasing credible information is essential to battling the pandemic. On at least two recent occasions Government ministers have walked away at press conferences without letting journalists complete asking questions, and details of Government measures are hard to come by. 

Withholding information, either intentionally or otherwise, at such a critical point is deeply problematic. There is no denying that public officials have much to contend with and answering multiple phone calls is not practical but it is for precisely this reason that information sharing frameworks should be integrated to pandemic responses and crisis management. 

The Government is well aware of the power of information. At the start of the pandemic, information was used as a public relations tactic to win brownie points, but as it became increasingly clear that the Government dropped the ball on pandemic preparedness over the last few months, it has become defensive. This is the wrong move and does not serve public interest or its own political reputation. 

World Press Freedom Day is, partly, an opportunity for the Government to strengthen its information sharing mechanisms, support media, listen to experts and ensure the pandemic creates the least possible impact. Not only would this burnish Sri Lanka’s governance but also protect the lives of millions.