The European Publishers Council is honoured to be sponsoring the seventh version of Difference Day, organised by Universite Libre de Brussels (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) on 2 and 3 May 2021. This year in celebrating Difference Day and World Press Freedom Day the focus of the event is on ‘Women Breaking the News’ - highlighting the challenges and celebrating the women in the news industry with sessions on women journalists behind the news, women journalists on the front line, and great women bringing big stories. Please find the programme for the events by following this link.
Angela Mills Wade, our Executive Director said:
“We can never take press freedom for granted. On Difference Day, we celebrate the importance of a free and independent press for democracy, for diversity, for freedom, and for the truth – but not everyone enjoys a free press. Even in Europe, there are countries where that freedom is under threat and where journalists – especially women, are in fear of their safety, and sometimes their lives. Press freedom is important yet fragile and we must never tire of defending it.”
For the second year running we find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are taking the opportunity to celebrate World Press Freedom Day and Difference Day as at times of crisis, the role of free and independent news media is ever-present and ever-important, providing trustworthy information to citizens across the world.
Difference Day marks the role of women in the media, where female journalists face persecution online and in person. Female reporters, and especially women of colour are constantly targeted on various online platforms with hateful speech and harassment. Therefore, the role of women in bringing citizens the news, regardless of their ethnicity or background, is celebrated today, and to bring more awareness for diversity and inclusion in the media sector.
The UN launched World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the utmost importance of freedom of the press, and to stress government’s responsibility to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression, outlined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and to mark the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration – statement of free press doctrine by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
To read more about Difference Day, a European movement to make a difference on WPFD, and learn more about the past celebrations, please follow this link. If you are interested in joining on 3rd May, you may follow this link for more information about the programme and to register for the event. The link to the streaming will be provided on Sunday 2nd of May on Difference Day website.
For more information on the World Press Freedom Day can be found on the United Nations website and following this link.