My thought on freedom of the press

Every time I come across the concept of “press freedom” in its literary meaning, I feel very comfortable and happy. But beyond the surface, I usually get lost due to the annual news of journalists who are silent, harassed and killed. Even the recent statistics issued, indicating that about 200 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024-four two thirds of their Palestinians killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza and West Bank. These data and statistics alone have made me ask the rhetorical question: is there freedom of the press in Nigeria or in the world? This question triggered me to continue looking for the answers. Unfortunately, the result of any investigation I conducted was doubtful and scared me as a young journalist.

When I was growing in my community, even people who have not acquired an elementary school certificate often told young people who have passion for journalism, who even at war, if I wear a jacket that transported the powerful word “press”, you are completely safe and nobody will attack you. But I grew up seeing and assisted to different things. Why does the killing, harassment, intimidation and silent of journalists persist every year? These problems have left me persistently and continually left disillusioned, even by questioning everything about the harsh realities that journalists face, in particular in the war areas.

The conferences of the National Open University of Nigeria entitled “Media and Society” in Module 2, Unit 3, observed that “there is no freedom of absolute printing anywhere in the world”. They also explained that in Nigeria, section 39 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees the freedom of the press, is contradictory because the half of the freedom guaranteed to journalists was taken away by the same constitution.

Unfortunately, precisely in a country, this high number of individuals who sacrifice their lives to inform us are lost in war. The sad part of the accident is that it highlights the immense risk that journalists take and if research had to be conducted to discover the number correctly in all countries around the world, without a doubt, it is likely that the number will double.

The most shocking thing is that, despite the fact that, they are our affected colleagues, we pay less attention to this number in our coverage, showing the hectic situation in which journalists work and the legacy of the famous journalists and their contribution to journalism.

However, I firmly believe that the loss of about 200 brave and fearless journalists in Gaza deserves a large coverage from the media all over the world. This could undoubtedly help to support justice and a free press in the world.

Is my greatest concern for journalists who have lost their lives is that most of them work in private organizations and after death, which is aimed at their families? Several times at school, we have been taught that our duty is very essential; In fact, when you are in rhythm, in particular in a place where there is violence and conflict, you are like a soldier who reports on the war. But the soldiers have a guarantee allowance of life and after their lives have been lost, provisions are made.

In addition, I saw the schools open to orphans whose parents died while needing the country as soldiers. But do we ask for journalists? In which situations their families fall after their disappearance as a result of their duty to serve humanity for telling the truth? Things must also be done in this aspect; The day of the world press should be more than a single day for memory and defense; It should also be one day to support the families of journalists who have lost their lives and to push for the release of those who are illegally imprisoned, so that they can carry out their responsibilities.

I can vividly remember what a 30 -year -old journalist said last year during the celebration of the day of the World Press of 2024: “If you want to know the real men of the company, they are journalists because, several calibers of people who work in various government agencies and their waiters will be held and their paths for war would flee. Happening, for the reason to inform the company about what is happening.”

It is important to note that journalism is the foundation of any democratic society. Let the government and the interested parties allow the press to exercise their rights without any obstacle or interference, because freedom of the press is not only for the benefit of journalists, but also to make society free and informed. By allowing the press to operate freely, they will ensure that people’s voices are listened to and that people in power are held responsible.