They Said I Was 'Committing Journalism'

"I Got Put In Jail In Zimbabwe For Simply Doing My Job. They Said I Was 'Committing Journalism' And I Hope They Were Right.€™Â€™

That's how Barry Bearak of The New York Times described his arrest, detention and expulsion from Zimbabwe in March 2008, events that created a storm of indignation and protest in the international community. But for the hundreds of journalists who are arrested in the world each year, public outcry is often sadly lacking.

That’s why the World Association of Newspapers has dedicated its 2009 World Press Freedom Day initiative to `Journalists in the Firing Line’. WAN, the global organisation for the world¹s press, is offering a package of materials for publication on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, to bring attention to the plight of journalists who are persecuted merely for doing their jobs.

The materials, which newspapers are encouraged to publish on 3 May, can be found at http://www.worldpressfreedomday.org.

Mr Bearak’s experiences, and those of other journalists, are recounted in an article included in the package of materials, which WAN is offering in English, French and Spanish (translation to other languages is encouraged). The package also includes:

- Cartoons, created by noted French cartoonist Michel Cambon, that illustrate the problems facing journalists in the firing line. The cartoons, including an animated version for websites and broadcasters, can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/cartoons.php?id=892.

- Public service advertisements that help raise awareness of the problem and allow newspapers to express solidarity with those who put their lives on the line. The advertisements can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/articles.php?id=948.

- Interviews with journalists who have suffered harassment and attacks but continue to report despite the hardships. The texts can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/texts.php?id=774

- An editorial for newspaper `op-ed’ pages to be published on World Press Freedom Day, which can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/articles.php?id=906

- Maps and infographics showing where journalists were killed, arrested and imprisoned world-wide in 2008. The graphics can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/articles.php?id=885

- Photographs that newspapers can use to illustrate the articles and other materials, provided by Agence France-Presse expressly for the World Press Freedom Day initiative, at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/photos.php?id=899

- Materials to be used in Newspapers in Education programmes that can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/articles.php?id=913

World Press Freedom Day marks the anniversary of the 1991 Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of principles calling for a free, independent and pluralistic media throughout the world. The Declaration affirms that a free press is essential to the existence of democracy and a fundamental human goal.

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom and the professional and business interests of newspapers world-wide. Representing 18,000 newspapers, its membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups.

ENDS

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