Press Freedom and State of Journalism in South Asia

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The year since May 2003 has been a turbulent time for journalists in South
Asia. As in previous years, governments, insurgents, terrorists, corrupt
officials, gangsters and fundamentalists of all religions were seen to be
targeting media for its free and fearless reporting. Despite major
challenges and difficult political situations in the region, there were many
examples of the work of journalists in highlighting discrimination,
promoting peace and resisting attempts at censorship and repression.

The second annual report on press freedom in South Asia has been coordinated
by the International Federation of Journalists, the global voice for
journalists. The report, covering Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,
the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka records and spotlights a worrying trend of
increasing violence against journalists, including the deaths of at least 12
journalists and other media workers in the 12 months to this day. The report
shows that journalism in South Asia continues to be a risky affair, and that
those journalists operating in regions of civil, political unrest and ethnic
violence do so under enormous pressure on both their safety and their
ability to do their job freely. In many cases, the attacks on journalists
could be directly linked to their free and fearless reporting. Journalists
need support not only to do their jobs in safety but they also need
professional training and proper working conditions.

Further information, Jacqueline Park, Director IFJ Asia, +61 411 721 692,
ifj at ifj-asia.org or Laxmi Murthy, Tolerance Prize Co-ordinator for South
Asia in New Delhi, +91-9818383669, ifjsouthasia at hotmail.com

Report available at:
http://www.ifj-asia.org/misc/SA_SApress_freedom_report2003-2004.pdf