World Press Freedom Day was celebrated globally with the theme, ‘21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers”, highlighting the growing importance of bloggers and internet journalists in the light of media freedom.
Here in Malaysia, people were encouraged by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) to tweet and Facebook responses to the question, “What are you doing for press freedom?” and to ask PM Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak the same question through a tweet.
On the same day, National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Mohamed Hata Wahari vowed to fight for greater press freedom after his recent sacking by Utusan Malaysia for alleged statements against the media outlet.
The former senior journalist was fired for a breach of contract after criticising the editorial slant of the UMNO-owned newspaper, allegedly tarnishing the paper’s reputation.
His statement, released on May 3, 2011, confirmed his intention to remain NUJ president until the government releases a publication permit for his paper, Utusan Rakyat.
“This is my fight to see that the media is ethical and responsible... I explained to the [Home Ministry] that with Utusan Rakyat, we want to be pro-rakyat not just pro-governing party or pro-opposition party, BN or Pakatan Rakyat,” Hata said after a meeting with a representative from the Home Ministry.
Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi received this year’s UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize, an award given in honour of an individual or organisation fighting for press freedom anywhere in the world.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova presented the award at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., the United States to Zeidabadi, who is currently serving a six-year sentence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Government through a ‘soft revolution’.
- UNESCO, CIJ, Malaysian Insider & The Star
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