BBC marks World Press Freedom Day

BBC World Service marked the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2010, with a range of programming around press freedom, the safety of journalists and impunity. The content explored the issues associated with working in areas of conflict, journalist security, corruption and investigative journalism.

Peter Horrocks, Director, BBC Global News, says, "Spanning the last decade, two journalists on average are killed every week, attempting to deliver untold stories and crucial news to people around the world. This is just the tip of a range of intimidating activities against journalists and news organisations, such as hi-tech jamming of satellite television news services by countries like Iran. Our audiences have clearly demonstrated that they place a high value on impartial news, information and debate. A free and open media is imperative to ensure the survival and diversity of quality international news. In support of this, the BBC's international news services are choosing to mark World Press Freedom Day, with content that aims to highlight the importance of global press freedom for audiences everywhere."

BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Paul Adams reported on the impact of online journalism, questioning whether we have passed through the golden age of a free press. Are we heading for a glorified? blogocracy? where there is plenty of opinion but not enough money to fund the journalism which holds governments to account? Additionally, online, Vincent Dowd will provide a history of signal blocking.

Apart from this, reporters based in other countries raised the issues common in their countries.