PHOTO: The Author
By Pero Kerkula
WITHOUT PRESS FREEDOM:
- *Democracy.* A free press holds government accountable, informs voters, and exposes corruption. Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
- *Freedom.* Without press there’s no freedom. If citizens can’t know what the state is doing, they can’t challenge it.
- *Accountability*. Without press there’s no accountability in both public and private institutions. Officials act differently when they know someone is watching.
- *Truth* Without press there’s no truth in the public square. Journalists investigate and verify so rumors don’t rule.
- *Public Record.* Without press there’s no public record. Court cases, legislative debates, and budgets disappear from history if no one writes them down.
To sum it up, PRESS is key to rebuilding trust and confidence in our governance system. That’s the main reason we associate with and advocate for Press Freedom.