New Delhi, April 29 (H.S.): On World Press Freedom Day (May 3), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted that free journalism is vital for people’s freedom, emphasizing that independent journalism supports accountability, justice, and human rights.

Guterres raised concerns about the growing violence against journalists, including attacks, detention, and censorship, particularly in conflict zones like Gaza, underscoring that unsafe conditions for journalists represent a loss for society. He discussed this year’s theme regarding artificial intelligence (AI), noting its potential to either enhance or hinder freedom of expression due to biased algorithms and misinformation.

Guterres stressed the importance of accurate, verifiable information in countering these threats and referenced the Global Digital Compact aimed at promoting information integrity. He urged all nations to protect press freedom, advocating for solidarity on this day to enable journalists to uncover societal truths.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar