World Press Freedom Day 2025 |03 May 2025

A press for the planet: Journalism's green mission in the spotlight

 As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the spotlight this year falls on an increasingly urgent mission: journalism’s role in protecting the environment. Under the global theme ‘A Press for the Planet’, the 2025 observance calls on media professionals everywhere to rise to the climate challenge – by informing, investigating, and inspiring change.

In a time where the Earth faces mounting threats from climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, the pen – or more aptly, the keyboard – has never been more powerful or more essential. World Press Freedom Day, established in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly, is not just a day of remembrance for the Windhoek Declaration. It is a call to defend the journalists who, even at risk to their own lives, uncover stories of environmental degradation, corporate misconduct, and policy failure.

From the vast Amazon to the shrinking glaciers of the Himalayas, journalists have shone a light on the silent crisis eroding our planet’s future. And in the Indian Ocean, Seychellois journalists have also answered that call. Investigative stories on illegal fishing, coral bleaching, coastal erosion, and the impact of climate change on small island states have helped inform national policy and stirred public awareness. These stories are not just about nature – they are about livelihoods, culture, and survival.

The link between a free press and environmental protection is no coincidence. Without independent journalism, crucial information often remains buried. Citizens remain uninformed. Accountability is evaded. In contrast, when journalists operate freely and without fear, they expose truths, amplify scientific voices, and give a platform to marginalised communities most affected by environmental change.

But telling the truth is not without danger. Across the globe, environmental journalists have faced harassment, censorship, and even death. From India to Mexico, reporters investigating deforestation or pollution have found themselves in the crosshairs of vested interests. Unesco has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of environmental reporters, reinforcing the need for stronger protections, both online and offline.

The 2025 theme also underscores the need to combat misinformation and greenwashing. As sustainability becomes a buzzword, powerful actors have learned to manipulate narratives. In such a climate, the role of ethical, fact-based journalism becomes indispensable. As the digital age floods the public space with dubious content, professional journalists must be the torchbearers of truth, science, and transparency.

In Seychelles, where the blue economy and sustainable development are national priorities, the media plays a vital role in bridging the gap between policy and people. Reports on marine conservation, environmental law enforcement, and community-based climate initiatives have become staples of local journalism. Importantly, Seychelles’ relatively open media environment has allowed for such coverage to flourish, although like many small nations, it faces challenges in resources, training, and digital resilience.

This World Press Freedom Day is not just a celebration – it is a reminder. A reminder to governments to strengthen legal frameworks that protect press freedom. A reminder to newsrooms to train their journalists in environmental reporting. A reminder to citizens to value and support independent media. And a reminder to journalists themselves that their words can ignite awareness, challenge power, and even help save a planet.

As the world looks toward a more sustainable future, it must do so with a free press standing firmly on the frontlines. Because if journalism falters, so too does the fight for climate justice.

Let us celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day with renewed commitment – not only to press freedom, but to a world where informed citizens can act, a planet can heal, and the truth can still be told.

Richard Ramasawmy