May 3, World Press Freedom Day, due to the global health crisis is celebrated through online discussions, debates, and webinars. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of the free press and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about the old, but as well new challenges, trends and concerns in a complex political, social and cultural environment.

In the situation of various restrictive measures imposed by the national governments as a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis, the media has an even more important role in providing objective and fact-based information to the public. Highly professional and independent media have a crucial role in the prevention of corruption through continuous control and oversight over national policy measures, public finances, equal access to a public health service, detecting conflict of interest among public officials, boosting the proper implementation of human rights and freedoms and support an independent and transparent functioning of the judiciary.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.