World Press Freedom Day 2025: A statement from the Seychelles Media Commission |03 May 2025

‘We call for respect of media practitioners and their work’

“Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, World Press Freedom Day on May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is a date that celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, and to support and defend the media from attacks on their independence.  

“It is a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics and responsibility.

“It is also a day to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. Figures released in February of this year by the committee to protect journalists show that at least 124 journalists in 18 countries were killed in 2024 alone – making it the deadliest year for reporters and media workers in more than three decades. Even one journalist or media practitioner killed, injured or threatened while following a story is one too many. 

“Whilst physical or verbal attacks are the most noticeable violations to press freedom, this year’s World Press Freedom Index 2025 issued by Reporters Without Borders focuses on another more insidious and less visible threat weakening press freedom, economic pressure. It is difficult to guarantee freedom, independence and plurality without stable and transparent financial conditions.

In many cases, pressure is brought to bear from media ownership concentrated in the hands of a few private individuals with political interests or those groups close to power, pressure from advertisers and financial backers, and restricted public aid. As in other countries, particularly in Africa, newsrooms in Seychelles are caught between preserving their editorial independence and ensuring their economic viability. The race to attract audiences can often be at the expense of quality reporting and rigorous adherence to truth and ethics adversely affecting the credibility of the media and media practitioners.

“The new media landscape is fragile but exciting; the opportunities presented by fast-evolving technologies and new platforms are many.  So too are the challenges in a world where any individual can publish content, eager to fill the void when media houses close down, or when ethical reporting is no longer the gold standard.

“AI, for example, is a great tool to support the work of media practitioners but without disciplined users and investment in tools to identify disinformation, generative AI is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of disinformation for political purposes aiming to influence the outcome of a democratic election, judicial or legislative process.

“We note that Seychelles dropped eight points in the World Press Freedom Index 2025. Work is clearly needed and dialogue required between all stakeholders and institutions. Concrete actions must be taken at all levels to strengthen the capacity of the media sector to ensure that it delivers accessible, verified and reliable information on appropriate platforms that serve all our citizens.

“On this World Press Freedom Day, we call for respect of media practitioners and their work, protection for the safety of journalists and free access to information, the development of national programmes to improve the media literacy of our citizens and encouraging both private and public institutions to invest in maintaining the independence and survival of our fourth pillar of democracy.

“We wish all media practitioners Happy World Press Freedom Day.”