Latest news with #WorldPressFreedomDay2025
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Under Watch: Pakistan's Journalists Struggle to Stay Afloat in a Sinking Democracy
While the South African media still enjoys constitutional protections and a relatively free press environment, Pakistan's journalists are battling to breathe amid a tightening noose drawn by military and intelligence institutions. Image: Supplied As South Africa continues its journey of democratic consolidation and media transformation, the situation in Pakistan serves as a chilling reminder of how press freedom can be slowly strangled under the guise of regulation and national security. While the South African media still enjoys constitutional protections and a relatively free press environment, Pakistan's journalists are battling to breathe amid a tightening noose drawn by military and intelligence institutions. A recent report titled ''Intimidation on All Fronts: Press Freedom and Media Safety in Pakistan'', released ahead of World Press Freedom Day 2025, paints a grim picture. Journalists in Pakistan face a growing array of threats: surveillance, legal intimidation, censorship, financial pressure, and in some cases, violent attacks. Despite constitutional guarantees, the freedom to report independently has become a high-risk act. Pakistan's history of media repression is not new. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ From the military regimes of Ayub Khan and Zia-ul-Haq to the more modern, media-savvy control strategies under Pervez Musharraf, the trend has remained the same — muzzle dissent and protect power. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, formed in 2002, was meant to regulate broadcast media. But over time, it has morphed into a weapon used to punish outlets and journalists who challenge the state narrative. Recent developments have added digital spaces to the list of controlled domains. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, initially aimed at curbing cybercrime, has often been misused to target online journalists and civil society voices. Amendments passed this year have broadened the state's powers even further, allowing for arrests and censorship under vague definitions of 'offensive content.' During the 2024 general elections, media access was deliberately restricted. Entire regions, including the capital Islamabad, faced mobile and internet shutdowns, severely hampering election coverage. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, then under the command of a retired general, enforced these blackouts on instructions from the Ministry of Interior. The timing raised serious concerns about transparency and the integrity of the electoral process. One of the most alarming proposals is the creation of the Pakistan Media Development Authority. Critics argue that it would function more as a state enforcer than a media watchdog, with powers to shut down outlets and prosecute journalists in special tribunals. Such bodies, in a democracy, would be unthinkable. But in Pakistan, they are becoming tools to silence critical reporting under a veil of legality. Economic pressure also plays a part. The government controls a large portion of advertising revenue, and this leverage is used to reward compliant media houses and starve those that refuse to toe the line. Newspapers like *Dawn* and *Daily Sahafat*, which have maintained editorial independence, have faced sharp revenue cuts, while pro-government platforms remain well-funded. But the financial and legal constraints pale in comparison to the physical dangers. Journalists are being harassed, abducted, or worse. In 2024 alone, seven journalists were killed. These included well-known names like Khalil Jibran and Saad Ahmed, whose deaths have not led to meaningful investigations or justice. The case of Arshad Sharif, shot dead in Kenya after fleeing threats in Pakistan, remains a haunting symbol of the lengths to which journalists must go to avoid repression, only to meet violence abroad. Women in the industry are also increasingly targeted. Javeria Siddique, the widow of Arshad Sharif and a journalist in her own right, has faced ongoing harassment both online and off. Such stories are no longer isolated incidents—they reflect a pattern. The Pakistan Press Foundation documented 34 cases of physical assaults, digital threats, or kidnapping in just the first half of 2025. Dozens of journalists have either been arrested or forced into exile. Even prominent figures like Imran Riaz Khan have been repeatedly detained for challenging state institutions, with little or no legal recourse. As South Africans, we should not look away. The experiences of Pakistani journalists should remind us that the freedom to write, question, and investigate must never be taken for granted. When military or political elites control narratives, societies lose not only their access to truth but also the accountability that keeps democracies a time where disinformation is rampant and authoritarian tactics are spreading across borders, the struggle of Pakistani journalists must be seen for what it is — a frontline battle for democracy. South Africa, with its hard-won media freedoms, must stand in solidarity with those who risk everything for the simple act of telling the truth.
Nahar Net
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day: Reporting in Brave New World
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 May 2025, 11:33 Under the global theme 'Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media', UNESCO marked on Monday World Press Freedom Day 2025 with a celebration, held under the patronage of Dr. Paul Morcos, Minister of Information. The event brought together media professionals, technology and AI experts, government representatives, civil society actors, and young journalists to reflect on the evolving relationship between technology and media in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. The celebration began with opening remarks from Ms. Costanza Farina, Director of UNESCO Beirut Office, and Minister Morcos. Both emphasized the critical importance of safeguarding the fundamental right to freedom of expression while also recognizing the transformative potential of AI for the media sector. 'Press freedom is not a privilege; it is a right that must be preserved with vigilance. In this age of innovation and artificial intelligence, it is imperative that journalism and technology evolve together, upholding the principles of truth, democracy, and human dignity. In this context, we reaffirm our commitment to working closely with UNESCO to promote the rights of journalists, safeguard our audiovisual heritage, and combat disinformation.' said Morcos. 'AI brings to Lebanon both great promise and significant risks,' said Costanza Farina, Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut. 'On one hand, it creates new opportunities for people to access information, connect globally, and amplify underrepresented voices. On the other, it raises serious concerns about misinformation, surveillance, and digital manipulation — challenges that resonate deeply in our local context, where media independence often faces pressure. UNESCO has consistently supported Lebanon in navigating these technological and societal shifts, working closely with our institutional partner, the Ministry of Information, to promote a free, pluralistic, safe, and inclusive media landscape.' The day was also an opportunity to launch a new Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Campaign, developed by UNESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Information in Lebanon and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). The campaign aims to raise public awareness on critical thinking and equip citizens with the tools to identify and combat fake news and disinformation. Building on this momentum, UNESCO handed over six cameras to field reporters from the National News Agency (NNA) and Télé Liban. The reporters had previously acquired fact-checking skills through a customized training program, which focused on combating disinformation and upholding media integrity in challenging contexts. A core feature of the event was a series of interactive thematic sessions that convened media professionals, AI experts, policymakers, academics, and civil society actors. The sessions provided a space for open discussion, shared insights, and dialogue on the practical and ethical implications of AI in media. Topics included AI's role in fighting and fueling disinformation, its effect on news production and media viability, and the challenges it poses to editorial independence and democratic discourse. These discussions fostered collective reflection and highlighted the need for robust safeguards and inclusive governance frameworks to protect press freedom. These thematic discussions were not only enriched by expert perspectives but also energized by the presence of young voices. The active involvement of a team of dynamic university students from the Youth Newsroom initiative added a hands-on learning component to the event. These aspiring journalists covered the sessions, conducted interviews, and produced stories as part of a structured training experience in professional reporting and media ethics. World Press Freedom Day 2025 provides a platform to examine how AI can both support and challenge the free flow of information, enhance press freedom, and contribute to democratic consolidation and sustainable development in a rapidly evolving digital world. It reaffirms UNESCO's commitment to promoting a media landscape that is free, inclusive, and grounded in human rights standards, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.10 to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. About UNESCO With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay. 'Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed' – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
