World Press Freedom Day 2021: reliable information essential in crisis situations
- Today we mark World Press Freedom Day. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown access to accurate and comprehensive news coverage has never been more important
- Every day, journalists at the Post and other media organisations around the world work hard on the frontlines to ask the right questions and get to the truth
Dear readers,
Today we mark World Press Freedom Day. Reflecting upon almost 1½ years of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear that reliable information is essential in crisis situations.
It is apt that this year’s theme is “Information as a Public Good” as it draws attention to the invaluable role of journalists in producing news as verified information for the public interest. Having access to accurate and comprehensive news coverage has never been more important.
It is therefore important to understand why it is necessary to produce high-quality independent journalism – stories that we publish must be fact-checked and well-sourced because disinformation can spread as fast as the virus itself, and harm ourselves and people around us. News publications must be responsible in publishing factual stories that are objective, balanced and trustworthy.
What would happen if journalists did not do their jobs? Imagine if there were no body to exercise the freedom to inform, educate and explain issues that matter. Does it make a difference if they operate with professional ethics to report factually and seek accuracy, fairness, objectivity, impartiality and comprehensiveness?
We strive to uphold SCMP’s editorial standards to protect the integrity of our journalism. We make it a point to be transparent and share these policies to maintain trust with our readers.
Every day, journalists at the Post and other media organisations around the world work hard on the frontlines to ask the right questions and get to the truth. Our reporters often take great personal risks to bring you such stories.
We have paid close attention to Beijing’s antitrust probe into e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the Post, and we have continued to report on China’s Big Tech companies and regulatory developments following the investigation, as well as scrutinise the impact of the new anti-monopoly guidelines.
We are living in a time when the public is awash with information, and verifying facts for public consumption and bearing witness to the truth have become more important than ever – even more so in a severely challenged media landscape.
At the beginning of this letter, I mentioned that journalists are on the frontlines for the battle for truth and for press freedoms. But they need not do it alone. For news to be a public good, it needs to continue being supported by the public.
Thank you for being a loyal reader of the South China Morning Post. From all of us here at the Post, we hope you stay safe, healthy and informed.
With deep gratitude,
Tammy Tam
SCMP Editor-in-Chief