Preservation of Free Press

General AssemblySpecial Political & Decolonization Committee

TopicPreservation of Free Press

Freedom of the press is one of the fundamental components of a democratic society in our current age. As stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the right to freedom of opinion and expression includes the freedom to seek, obtain, and disseminate information through all forms of media. Freedom of press is about allowing journalists to investigate the actions of the government, expose corrupt individuals, educate the public, and voice various opinions. The United Nations and many other international organizations highlight the role of independent media in ensuring transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

Even with many protections in place, journalists across the globe face the problem of censorship, imprisonment, violence, intimidation and even murder. Government bodies may prevent media coverage through censorship, limiting the accessibility of information, and controlling the work of all media institutions. Journalists may also come across the unlawful acts of non-governmental organizations such as criminal organizations, movements, or extremists. The UN claims that many unsolved murders of journalists contribute to the culture of impunity.

Many new opportunities for the press are opened by the digital era, yet there are also many threats. Thanks to social networks and online news, journalists and citizens have an easier time in distributing news and information. The digital era has brought about both new opportunities and threats to press freedom. Social media and online news have provided greater possibilities of information dissemination, yet there are threats of misinformation, disinformation, cyberbullying, spying and cyberattacks that may harm public trust in journalists and their safety. Artificial intelligence has brought about another challenge in the form of deepfakes and other misleading content. Yet it also provides useful research and translation facilities. The 2025 World Press Freedom Day was dedicated to the study of the impact of AI on press freedom and journalism development.

Therefore the international community faces a difficult task of finding a solution to the problem of how to protect press freedom and yet meet legitimate demands such as national security issues, hate speech, misinformation and security threats to society. Any international solution should be based on the balance between freedom of expression and responsible journalism, protecting journalists and right to information, as well as respecting state sovereignty.

Focus Questions:

1. How can the UN strengthen protections for journalists facing censorship, imprisonment, or violence?
2. What measures can protect journalists without restricting legitimate freedom of expression?
3. How should governments and technology companies address misinformation and AI-generated content?
4. How can developing countries build independent and sustainable media systems?

Useful Links:

UN World Press Freedom Day 3 May – Resource Page
https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-day/resources

UNSECO Safety of Journalists Hub Page
https://www.unesco.org/en/safety-journalists?hub=687

UN 2013 Joint Message from the Secretary-General and Director General of UNESCO on World Press Day
https://press.un.org/en/2013/sg2195.doc.htm

Article19 Web Page – Journalist Safety Hub
https://www.article19.org/journosafe-resource-hub/

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