Political Quotes

“today I commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2015 on May 3, 2015--a day reserved to celebrate the value of freedom of press and the critical role it serves in creating a more free and open society. In its highest forms, the press does not simply inform, but brings attention to atrocities around the world, provides checks on authoritarian governments, and catalyzes better governance. The United States has recognized the great value of freedom of the press from its inception and in its Declaration of Universal Rights, the United Nations acknowledged the profound role of this fundamental right. On May 3, 1991, in the Windhoek Declaration, the U.N. recommitted itself to this important cause with a call to arms to protect the right of the press ``to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.'' A pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy as well as economic development. According to Freedom House's 2014 Freedom of the Press Index, only 14 percent of the world's citizens live in countries that enjoy a free press. In every other corner of the world, freedom of the press is threatened by governments that want to restrict freedom of expression and association by harassing and intimidating journalists.…”