The Media Alliance launched the "30 Days of Press Freedom" campaign on 2 April 2013 with a call for a uniform national approach to shield laws for journalists amid an unprecedented assault on press freedom in Australia.
A host of Australia’s top journalists, foreign correspondents, media commentators and musicians have used their profile to highlight the critical importance of press freedom in Australia and the Asia Pacific through the 30 Days of Press Freedom campaign.
The Media Alliance launched 30 Days of Press Freedom on April 2, 2013 with a call for a uniform national approach to shield laws for journalists amid an unprecedented assault on press freedom in Australia.
Five Media Alliance members currently face court action to reveal their confidential sources with the prospect of criminal convictions, fines and/or jail terms for maintaining their ethical responsibility in refusing to do so. [UPDATE: Two of the journalists have been told they are no longer required to appear in court to reveal their sources.]
Click here to read the full statement from the Media Alliance.
Read statements from the affected journalists on the 30 Days of Press Freedom Facebook page.
Contributors to 30 Days of Press Freedom include SBS Dateline host Anjali Rau, Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes, 7.30 host Leigh Sales and Fairfax foreign correspondent Paul McGeough, whose dispatch from the wilds of Afghanistan will be presented with a stunning photo essay from Kate Geraghty.
Leading up to UNESCO World Press Freedom Day and the annual Press Freedom Media Dinner in Sydney on May 3, the Media Alliance is sharing exclusive works exploring press freedom issues by some of Australia’s top cartoonists, foreign correspondents, photojournalists, documentary filmmakers, writers and journalists.
We’re also sharing resources from international press freedom supporters, stories from journalists working in regimes where every day at work comes with death threats, the risk of imprisonment, or death – and heart wrenching stories from colleagues and families left behind when journalists were killed at work.
Please LIKE the 30 Days of Press Freedom page on Facebook and join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #pressfreedom.
On May 3, the Media Alliance and Walkley Foundation for Journalism will host the 2013 Press Freedom Media Dinner at Sydney Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf.
All proceeds from this annual event in celebration of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day go to the Media Safety and Solidarity Fund, which offers emergency assistance to journalists in the Asia Pacific and supports their families in the event of their death.
