OneUN commemorates World Press Freedom Day 2016
UN Agencies, UNESCO, FAO and UNDP, in partnership with the National University of Samoa (NUS) Media and Journalism Programme, hosted a Media Seminar to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. The Seminar will brought together Communication Officers from government ministries and media representatives and was held in April in Apia, Samoa
With 2016 as the official year to strengthen global commitments on sustainable development through the promotion of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Country Team in Samoa and NUS Media and Journalism Programme agreed to host this event to highlight the significance of the media in development and its many functions that can further the cause of improving the quality of life.
The main goal of the seminar, was to provide the media with accurate and simple information on sustainable development in the hope that they will disseminate it broadly to educate Samoan communities. The activity also aimed at enhancing strong collaborations between communication officers of government ministries, NGOs, international organisations and the mainstream media.
Why freedom of information is so important?
Freedom of information is a fundamental freedom and a human right, inherently bound up with the broader right to freedom of expression. It covers the right to seek and receive information, and it complements the right to impart information which is the freedom to make information public via the right to press freedom.
Freedom of information defines the degree of openness and transparency within a society. Therefore any limitations on the access to information side of communications, impact on the imparting side, and vice versa. The two dimensions are essential for the full exercise of the right to free expression.
Journalism has a major role to play in actualizing the right to information in the interests of the wider public. But how much of our own Governments plan for Sustainable Development are well known and understood by the Media is a key question.
The Seminar invited the participation of journalists, announcers, programme producers from all media organisations in Samoa as well as Communications Officers from several government ministries.
The seminar was be followed by an evening reception to celebrate NUS Media and Journalism Students’ Annual Awards through the assistance of UNESCO.
A statement of commitment to promote and publicise the Sustainable Development Goals was developed for participants at the end of the seminar and was launched during the evening reception.