Mumbai, May 3: The UN General Assembly in 1993, proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. The decision was taken following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. May 3 also marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek and the day is celebrated as World Press Freedom Day, says UN in its description of World Press Day on its official site. The UN website mentions the World Press Day as an opportunity to celebrate the "fundamental principles of press freedom." The other stated objectives are to "assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. "

The 2018 Theme for World Press Freedom Day is "Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law." The theme of the 2018 celebration emphasizes the importance of sustaining and strengthening a legal environment for press freedom and mentions independent judiciary as a foremost requirement for legal guarantees for press freedom and the prosecution of crimes against journalists.

The theme also pays attention to the role of the media in sustainable development. It mentions elections especially, for a journalists' role becomes even more important then. The journalist is expected to act as a watchdog and encourages and makes it necessary for those in power also to "uphold transparency, accountability and the rule of law."

The theme also tries to address and explore "legislative gaps" with regard to freedom of expression and information online. It also includes in its broad theme the attempt to censor or put a limitation to online information.

The UN mentions that within the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, "the contribution of journalists and media workers is most associated with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 of peace, justice and strong institutions." The UN mentions that press freedom is a must for achieving the goals of transparency, effectiveness and keeping the masses informed about their rights.

However, one interesting aspect that emerged on May 2, a day before the World Press Day 2018, was the Google search trends showing in America. While many states searched for World Press Freedom Day and Free Speech, there were states that searched for Free Beer. In fact, 'Free Beer' search was among the top Google trends in US along with the World Press Freedom Day search. It hence became a Free Speech Vs Free Beer search contest before the World Press Freedom Day.

The press is considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy. In order to play the role of a watchdog and keep a watch on the centers of power, it is essential for the press to be free of pressures that can  jeopardize the ability of media and press. It is hence important for the world to take note of the World Press Freedom Day and ensure that the principles that the day stands for receives universal support.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 03, 2018 01:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).