According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2007, more than 500 reporters were harassed, gagged or arrested around the world. Of that number, 127 remain imprisoned in 24 countries, including China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Freedom to communicate is one of the fundamental principles of human rights, including journalists and the mass media.
Freedom is a relative term and can be defined and interpreted differently by individuals, institutions, and governments. There is no universally approved and agreed-upon definition for freedom. Likewise, there is no such a thing as absolute freedom -- meaning that one can do whatever he or she wishes without any repercussions or consequences.
In democracies, normally, people are free to express their thoughts orally or in writing but they have to keep in mind that for every action there is a reaction. In other words, social responsibility is an important element of freedom. Freedom without responsibility will result in chaos. Journalists are expected to serve as guardians of reality. Hence, they must be allowed to reveal the truth and be afforded the freedom and responsibility that they deserve in serving the interests of their audiences. I should add that the interest of audiences often coincides with the interests of nations.
The concept of freedom has been debated since the emergence and popularity of the Gutenberg Press around 1600. It was the Gutenberg Press or movable type that made the mass production and distribution of printed materials possible. Today, the digital communication technologies are shattering the traditional modes of thinking, physical nation-state boundaries, including political, economic and social institutions.
The digital age -- ushered in by the computer technology and the wide word web -- has provided numerous opportunities to individuals, groups and organizations to freely and openly express their view points via e-mail, weblogs, chat rooms, My Space, You Tube, and other innovative and interactive venues. Therefore, it has become increasingly difficult for governments to control the flow of information within and without the geographical boundaries of nation-states.
And finally, if human rights are to be protected in the 21st century around the world, then a strong belief in objectivity, social responsibility and balanced reporting grounded in the Universal Human Rights Declaration is not only necessary but essential.
