World Press Day Essay

Let the members of the 4th estate do their work

World Press Day celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom. It was created to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. The Press plays an important role of conveying political, social and economic related information to citizens. Citizens are interested in service delivery issues in education, water and health but also on governance and the economy. Moreover, access to timely and quality information is their constitutional right. A recent access to information opinion survey by Twaweza East Africa through its Sauti za Wananchi mobile

According to a study done by the Working Group on the Media more than 50 percent of the 282 participating journalists had received threats more than once in their working life, which, according to the same study, was "a confirmation that journalists are increasingly working in a hostile environment in Kenya." At least 27 percent of the journalists said they receive several threats a month, while at least 62 percent said they have received at least one threat every

Media owners to facilitate journalists to practice good journalism, respect the independence of the newsroom, promote and defend the right to press freedom and freedom of expression. Further, to allow a diversity of views on their media platforms and honor the public interest mission of