*EPF510 05/03/2002
Text: U.S. Reaffirms Commitment to Freedom of the Press
(State Dept. issues statement on May 3, World Press Freedom Day) (390)

Following is the text of a statement from State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher marking World Press Freedom Day, May 3:

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U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
May 3, 2002

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

World Press Freedom Day

May 3 is World Press Freedom Day. On this occasion, we strongly reaffirm the U.S. commitment to freedom of the press and to the protection of those who have dedicated their lives to it.

The right to gather information and to publish freely is a cornerstone of our nation and a core human right. This right is reflected in our Bill of Rights, our long tradition of an open press, and the accessibility of government officials and information to the press. New global communications technologies increasingly extend our capacity to provide access to information from ever more sources. We must work to ensure that these technologies remain available to all free from government censorship.

While appreciating the many benefits that a free press brings to our people, our society and institutions, we must also recognize that freedom of the press is threatened far too often and in far too many places. Those who confront tyranny, investigate corruption and report on the abuse of power are often met with violence, intimidation, and even death. The Freedom Forum today commemorates 51 journalists who died covering the news in 2001. In 2002 alone five journalists have been killed to date. One of them was Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter tortured and killed by terrorist captors in February. His brutal death underscored that repressive forces continue to try to silence or distort the people's right to know. These forces must not be allowed to prevail.

The Department of State, along with our embassies abroad and the U.S. Agency for International Development, is committed to strengthening the ability of the press to carry out its vital mission. In order to support democracy and freedom of the press abroad, we provide diplomatic support where freedom of the press is in danger, training and exchange programs for foreign journalists, and grants for struggling independent media organizations. By helping free media to do their job, we help bring freedom to all.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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