World Press Freedom Day event organized by Universal Peace Federation Austria in Vienna.
Report: Muhammad Amir Siddique Journalist Vienna Austria.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. Journalism is the fourth pillar of democracy. The people involved in this profession should carry out their duties with integrity. These views were expressed by the speakers at a breakfast event on May 4th Saturday on the occasion of World Journalism Day on behalf of (UPF) Universal Peace Federation Austria,
In Vienna, the capital of Austria, Universal Peace Federation Austria and in collaboration with the (UNCAV)United Nations Correspondent Association Vienna, in connection with the World Press Freedom Day, organized the topic of “Traditional and social media in times of digitization, ‘fake news’ and artificial intelligence”. In addition to editors of many newspapers, journalists associated with print and electronic media and members of the international community participated. At the beginning of the event, Peter Haider, President of Universal Peace Federation Austria, gave a warm welcome to all the guests. Further, he congratulated all the people associated with the media on the World Press Freedom Day. On this occasion, he informed the participants about the association. Addressing the event. The speakers said that people associated with the media should try to fulfill their role with diligence and honesty. They said that journalists are a strong bridge between the people and the government and new journalists are coming into the profession of journalism. Encouraging is the need of the hour. More speakers expressed their views and said that the World Press Freedom Day is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in many countries around the world. The purpose of which is to pay tribute to the journalist community for rendering important services to the society. More speakers had to say on this occasion۔
They urged the people associated with print and electronic media to keep all aspects in mind while preparing news. The list of challenges to press freedom is incomplete without mentioning “fake news”. Presenting lies as truth and distorting the truth is the danger that is facing the freedom of the press today. After reading this, the question immediately arises in the mind, how? The thing is that when When people are exposed to false or misleading information, they may begin to doubt the credibility of all news sources. Including those that are not accurate and reliable. Thus, public trust in traditional media and journalists will be lost. On social media, you will find a lot of fake news, information and things called by the names of journalists. In reality there is no relation.
These fake news, information and statements seriously undermine the public trust and credibility of journalists, which weakens the ability of journalists to do their work effectively. Because it becomes difficult for the public to differentiate between fact and fiction. The proliferation of fake news can create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for journalists. Because they themselves can be accused of spreading misinformation or “fake news”. This can have a negative impact on freedom of expression, as journalists may be reluctant to report on certain topics or news for fear of being accused of spreading false information. Such a situation can, on the one hand, lead to increasing pressure on journalists and media outlets to provide more sensational or clickbait content to gain attention rather than providing in-depth factual reporting. On the other hand, it may also lead to demands for increased government regulation of the media.
The rapid penetration of social media, armed with the power of the Internet, has allowed “fake news” to spread with unprecedented speed. Among the speakers who participated in it were,
DI Abdalla Sharief, President of UNCAV, John Herzog, Austrian Journalists Club, Dr. Jakob Staubmann, MENA Editors Network, Mag. Hubert Huber, journalist trainer
Dr. Leo Gabriel, television journalist, filmmaker and
Tanya Kayhan, President of Oxus TV (Media, Integration, Culture) Youth press. At the end of the event, Universal Peace Federation President Peter Haider thanked everyone for coming to the World Press Freedom Day event.
