The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Financial pressures, decisions of the courts and the level of preparedness and education of journalists are the biggest obstacles facing the freedom of the press in Slovakia; says the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists (SSN) and the international Press Institute (IPI Slovakia).
The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Financial pressures, decisions of the courts and the level of preparedness and education of journalists are the biggest obstacles facing the freedom of the press in Slovakia; says the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists (SSN) and the international Press Institute (IPI Slovakia). “Freedom of speech seems most at risk from economic pressure facing editors and media in general. It is equally felt by journalists themselves,” said Tamara Valková, from SSN. Pavol Mudrý from IPI Slovakia concurs, but that “well educated, diligent journalists have a higher esteem even when performing heavy tasks, such as looking into various institutions and while working in investigative journalism”.
George Christopher
