You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. 05/02/2014 05:27 PM EDT Highlights of State Department and USAID Efforts to Support Press and Media FreedomFact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 2, 2014
On World Press Freedom Day, the United States pays special honor to the importance of media freedom – a crucial element of freedom of expression – at home and abroad. A diverse and independent press is crucial to holding governments accountable and promoting democracy around the world. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) at the U.S. Department of State details the state of media freedom around the world in the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The USAID Media Sustainability Index is an equally important tool in monitoring and reporting on media freedom. The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs also routinely highlights the mounting threats to journalists everywhere and the critical importance of a free press to democratic societies. The United States continuously works to advance media freedom around the world through bilateral engagement, public diplomacy, programming, and multilateral diplomacy. Examples of State Department and USAID efforts to promote media freedom include:
o In Kyrgyzstan, DRL has helped fund an independent public service TV and radio broadcaster to help curb the brain drain of Uzbek language journalists from southern Kyrgyzstan. The broadcaster remains the only outlet where Uzbek journalists can work and produce programming in their native language. o In the Middle East and North Africa, DRL is funding a program to train youth, many of which are at-risk, to influence national and regional dialogues and debates on democracy and human rights through media. o DRL’s Internet freedom programs focus on technology that not only provides journalists with online security, but also gives them open and uncensored access to information and communications, in addition to digital safety training and support. o In Mexico, DRL is funding a program that assists Mexican media professionals, including journalists, bloggers, and others, by continuously monitoring local security environments and responding to elevated threat levels.
Examples of these initiatives include:
The U.S. Government has also brought media freedom issues to the fore at the UN and in regional multilateral forums. For example:
For further information, please contact Aaron Jenson at JensenAW@State.gov or 202-647-0516, or visit HumanRights.gov. |
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[wanabidii] Press Releases: Highlights of State Department and USAID Efforts to Support Press and Media Freedom
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