THE Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), made up of professional journalists, editors and media entrepreneurs, marks this year’s World Press Freedom Day with an event on Wednesday, May 6, from 11a.m., at its secretariat in Asaba, the state capital, with a renewed focus on the role of journalism in fostering peace and preventing conflict.
A statement on Saturday, May 2, by Chairman and Secretary of the Planning Committee, Julius Oweh and Barth Inneh-Ozah Barth, respectively, explained that the celebration, though globally observed on May 3, was rescheduled to May 6 to enable wider participation of stakeholders within and outside the state.
The statement said eminent communication scholar, Gideon Uduchukwu Isika, of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, will deliver the Keynote Lecture, titled, ‘Journalism as a tool for conflict prevention and peace building,” in line with this year’s global focus on shaping a peaceful future through responsible media practice.
Executive Assistant on New Media to Delta State Governor, Felix Ofou, would be the Special Guest of Honour, with media professionals, scholars and practitioners expected at the event.
The celebration would provide a platform not only to honour the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, but also to deepen public understanding of the indispensable role of the Press in governance, accountability and democratic consolidation.
It would also offer an opportunity to reinforce ethical journalism, promote responsible reporting and strengthen collaboration among media stakeholders in advancing peace, unity and sustainable development in society.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1993, following a recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991, following the historic Windhoek Declaration, adopted by African journalists in Namibia in 1991, calling for a free, independent and pluralistic Press as a cornerstone of democracy and development.
Since then, May 3 has been set aside yearly to celebrate the fundamental principles of Press freedom, evaluate its state across the globe, defend the media from attacks on its independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
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