WPFD 2024 - Celebrations around the world

Find national and regional celebrations taking place around the world in the list below. Some events are independently organized and the content of these is the responsibility of the organizer. You can contact the organizer for more information.

The list of events is updated regularly.

If you are organizing an event, please fill in the online form.

Chile

Title of Event: DIVA Periodistas® celebra su XV Aniversario

Dates: 01-03-2024 - 20:00 (Santiago (GMT-4))

Location: Las Condes • Santiago • Chile

Format: Hybrid

Description: DIVA Periodistas® celebra su XV Aniversario como compañía de medios independientes fundada en mayo de 2009, dedicada a la publicación de exclusivas mundiales junto a entrevistas, investigaciones y coberturas informativas, como prensa acreditada de agendas y cumbres presidenciales, foros económicos, jurídicos, digitales (IA) y asuntos de igualdad de género.

Registration - Link1 - Link 2

Contact: Andrea González-Villablanca and Florencia Villablanca

Title of Event: Desde el terreno: Experiencias de periodismo ambiental en las Américas

Dates: 3 de mayo 11:30 horas

Location: Centro Gabriela Mistral, Santiago, Chile

Format: Hybrid

Description: El taller, "Desde el campo: Experiencias de periodismo ambiental en las Américas", promete una experiencia inmersiva al estilo de un podcast. Reuniendo a periodistas experimentados y expertos en medios, comienza con una visión general de los crecientes riesgos que enfrentan los periodistas ambientales en las Américas. A través de estudios de caso interactivos, los participantes se sumergen en experiencias de primera mano, explorando amenazas desde la intimidación legal hasta la violencia física. La sesión transita hacia una discusión colaborativa, reflejando la naturaleza participativa de un podcast, abordando propuestas para mejorar la seguridad de los periodistas mientras informan sobre temas ambientales. Analizando casos de periodismo investigativo, el taller encapsula la experiencia de campo, ilustrando el complejo panorama del reportaje ambiental en las Américas a través de un enfoque dinámico y multimedia.

Contact: Matias Ponce

Title of Event: Panel: Salvar la democracia y proteger el planeta. La misma lucha.

Dates: 3 de mayo 16:00 - Sala 3

Location: Sala 3, Centro Gabriela Mistral, Santiago, Chile

Format: Hybrid

Description: ¿Cuáles son los desafíos que enfrentan los periodistas al investigar sobre el medio ambiente en América Latina y el Caribe? ¿Cuáles son sus necesidades? ¿Qué sucede cuando el crimen o la corrupción son transfronterizos? ¿Es este un espacio profesional donde la cooperación es más necesaria? Algunos de los periodistas más destacados de América Latina y el Caribe comparten experiencias e intercambian ideas para fortalecer el periodismo en esta área.

Contact: Matias Ponce

Title of Event: Moviendo las voces indígenas al centro del Escenario. Comunicación intercultural: entre el desafío de la producción en lengua propia y la disputa por la estigmatización.

Dates: 3 de mayo 11:30 Sala 4

Location: Sala 4, Centro Gabriela Mistral, Santiago, Chile

Format: Online

Description: Este panel, conmemorando 30 años de la Declaración de Santiago, es un llamado a la acción para explorar desafíos y oportunidades cruciales en la comunicación indígena y multicultural. EN el mimo se abordan cuatro dimensiones fundamentales: Discriminación a Radios Comunitarias en Lenguas Indígenas, el rol de los medios comunitarios en la preservación de lenguas indígenas, Desafíos Legislativos y de Reservas Mediáticas, y la Criminalización y Persecución a Medios Comunitarios Indígenas en América Latina. Inspirado en la Declaración de Santiago y alineado con el Decenio Internacional de las Lenguas Indígenas, este panel promete una lectura crítica y acciones concretas para fortalecer el pluralismo mediático y la diversidad cultural.

Contact: Matias Ponce

Title of Event: Mesa Especial sobre Medios Públicos

Dates: 3 de mayo 15:00 Sala 4

Location: Sala 4, Centro Gabriela Mistral, Santiago, Chile

Format: Hybrid

Description: En un mundo donde la información y la comunicación juegan un papel crucial en la configuración de la opinión pública y la toma de decisiones, los medios públicos tienen una responsabilidad única. Esta mesa especial explorará el papel de los medios de comunicación financiados con fondos públicos en la sociedad contemporánea, examinando su relevancia, desafíos y potencial para promover una comunicación más equitativa y democrática.

Contact: Matias Ponce

Ukraine

Title of Event: Bucha Journalism Conference

Dates: 10-05-2024, 10:00 - 18:00 (Kyiv, GMT+3)

Location: Buchanskyi Park, Bucha

Description: As misinformation and censorship spread in an attempt to undermine transparency and factual reporting, the very role of ethical journalism reaches a pivotal juncture. Now more than ever, bearing witness and giving voice stand bulwark against deception. This May, with Bucha as a solemn backdrop, Ukrainska Pravda and the Media Development Foundation gather journalists and experts confronting assaults on truth. Discussions will address emerging threats while championing reporting’s core goal of investigating wrongdoing and guiding society toward justice.

Registration - Link

Contact: Eugene Zaslavsky and Iryna Tymoshenko

Title of Event: The opening of the exhibition "Behind the lens: culture under attack"

Dates: 03-05-2024 16:00-19:00 (UTC+3)

Location: The Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine

Description: The World Press Freedom Day celebration in Ukraine is the occasion to highlight the fundamental work done by Ukrainian journalists, specifically since the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022. For over two years, Ukrainian journalists have covered military actions at the frontlines, as well as documented the effects of the war on all aspects of life in Ukraine, including culture, environment, society, etc.

On this day UNESCO will open the photo exhibition “Behind the Lens: Culture Under Attack”. This exhibition will showcase a selection of photos among over 1000 photos shot by Ukrainian photojournalists as part of a project “Documenting the impact of the War in Ukraine on the Cultural Sector”, implemented by the Institute for Mass Information (IMI) with funding from UNESCO’s Heritage in Emergencies Fund (HEF). The exhibition will provide background information on this project which empowered Ukrainian photojournalists through trainings and mentoring to document damages to cultural heritage sites and to prepare reportages on how the culture sector in Ukraine transforms and displays resilience in response to the war in Ukraine. The exhibition will also feature artifacts from the damaged cultural heritage sites and 3D models of some of the destroyed objects that UNESCO is preparing to restore.

The opening event will further serve as an occasion to discuss the topic of safety of journalists in Ukraine, including physical safety the report “Journalists in the midst of full-scale war — report on Ukraine”, drafted by the Human Rights Platform according to the UNESCO Journalists Safety Indicators methodology, with funding from the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). This report assesses key features of the safety of journalists in Ukraine and develops research-based recommendations addressed at different stakeholder groups.

The photo exhibition will remain available for general audience for two weeks after the opening day.

Contact: Theresa Chorbacher

United States of America

Title of Event: Environmental Journalists on the Frontlines of Democracy

Dates: May 1,. 2024, 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars,Washington

Description: A healthy democracy depends on both a healthy ecosystem and a healthy news ecosystem. But environmental journalists are increasingly under attack around the world, as they seek to document the human and environmental effects of corruption and illegal exploitation of natural resources. In advance of this year's World Press Freedom Day, the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program, in partnership with the Society of Environmental Journalists, will celebrate the important role of environmental journalism and highlight the need to protect journalists around the world from surveillance, censorship, oppression, and violence.

Registration

Contact: Meaghan Parker

Title of Event: "Trust Me" World Press Freedom Day Watch Party

Date: 2 May 2024

Organizer: Getting Better Foundation

Description: "Trust Me" award-winning documentary brings awareness of our need to support credible journalism in order to build trust, resilience, and preservation of democracy. The feature film recently was recognized with the Walter Cronkite Excellence in Journalism and the EU's MEDEA Media & Learning awards. Join us online for a projection and Q&A with media literacy experts and filmmakers.

Location: Online

Link

Contact: Rosemary Smith

Title of Event: AI and the Future of Journalism: Human Rights Reporting

Dates: 3 May 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 AM EST

Location: Journalists and Writers Foundation, New York, USA

Description: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2024, the Journalists and Writers Foundation is organizing a virtual panel discussion “AI and the Future of Journalism: Human Rights Reporting” on Zoom Webinar on 3 May 2024, Friday 10:00 – 11:00 AM EST (New York Time). Amid the latest trends of innovation, technological advancements, and artificial intelligence dominating the content creation in many different industries, the future of journalism and the aspects of human rights reporting are inevitably evolving. While the latest technologies, increasing trends of digital journalism and the power of social media outlets facilitate more convenient access for global citizens to receive information, the disruptive power of artificial intelligence must be diligently addressed. In countries where freedom of the press is at urgent risk and in electoral autocracies, political leaders consolidate democracy through monopolizing public discourse. To grip the power to control, limit, and manipulate the flow of information, dissident journalists are often targeted by various defamation campaigns, deepfake videos, pervasive digital harassment, and cyber-attacks. Recognizing the two-sided impacts of AI on societies should not cease innovation but rather anchor AI technologies in human rights advocacy to uphold fundamental freedoms and ensure prosperity for all. Intergovernmental agencies working on press freedom must therefore define global principles, norms, and standards to ensure and monitor AI to remain trustworthy.

Registration - Link

Contact: Cemre Ulker

Title of Event: Updates & Status of Cases of U.S. Journalists Austin Tice & Evan Gershkovich

Dates: 03-05-2024, 09:00 - 10:00

Location: The National Press Club, Washington, DC, USA

Description: On Friday, May 3 at 9 a.m. the National Press Club will hold a news briefing to provide updates and status of cases of U.S. journalists: Austin Tice and Evan Gershkovich. National Press Club President Emily Wilkins will sit down with Debra Tice, mother of Austin Tice and Paul Beckett of the Wall Street Journal to discuss the status of their respective cases. This event is open to all credentialed press and members of the National Press Club.

Registration - Link 1 - Link 2

Contact: Bill McCarren

Title of Event: Conferencia: El Periodismo: Aliado clave del medioambiente

Dates: 3-5-2024 11:00 am (GMT-4:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Location: Asociación de Periodistas Venezolanos en el Extranjero (APEVEX)

Format: Online

Description: Expertos de organizaciones ambientalistas y periodistas especializados en medioambiente hablarán sobre la importancia del periodismo para divulgar la crisis climática y sus posibles soluciones.

Registration

Contact: Sonia Osorio

Uzbekistan

Title of Event: Roundtable co-hosted by OHCHR, UNESCO and the National Centre for Human Rights to celebrate World Press Freedom Day

Dates: 3 May 2024, 9:30-12:15

Location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Description: The 31st edition of World Press Freedom Day highlights the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. The press, journalism, access and dissemination of information play a crucial role to ensure and secure a sustainable future that respects the rights of individuals and their diversity of voices, as well as gender equality. Sustainable development is in jeopardy. The triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution—along with their connections to public health issues, the need to strengthen democracy, to tackle dis-/misinformation on digital platforms, among other issues have become major challenges for humanity. The information ecosystem has a key role to play in responding to this existential crisis. The access to reliable information and the importance of strengthening independent environmental and scientific journalism is more critical than ever. Independent journalists as well as scientists are crucial actors in helping our societies to separate facts from lies and manipulation to take informed decisions, including about environmental policies. Art. 49 of the new constitution of Uzbekistan, adopted in July 2023, lays down the constitutional right of each citizen to have the right to a favorable environment and reliable information about its condition. It also lays down the obligation for the state to take all necessary measures to improve, restore and protect the ecological system. Art. 61 of the Constitution further obliges each citizen to protect the environment. The green transition and the protection of the environment has been declared a priority of the Government. The roundtable will provide a platform to exchange on the following questions: 1. What are the key environmental issues in Uzbekistan? 2. What are the challenges in addressing these issues, including in reporting and public discussions? (It is important for us not just to talk about environmental issues but to look at them from the angle of freedom of expression, if there are any public discussions, if there is a pressure on journalists or activists who report on those issues, etc. Maybe we need to formulate this question even clearer to explain the link to freedom of expression). 3. How can the government work more efficiently with the civil society? (it is not only media which can be vocal about environmental issues but NGOs and activists too – they all are environmental human rights defenders. If we mention media, this would be too narrow).

Contact: Bakhrom Radjabov

WPFD 2024 - Celebrations around the world