‘Humbled by your courage’: Antony Blinken lauds journalists, warns of issues like surveillance, media censorship

US secretary of state Antony J Blinken held a press briefing on the occasion of World Press Freedom day on Tuesday, where he said an independent press was the “cornerstone for any healthy democracy” and “one of the most effective tools” for advancing human rights.

“Whether it’s documenting unjust working conditions, corrupt or failing public services, discrimination against women and marginalised groups, abuse of security forces, accurate reporting shines a bright light on the parts of our societies that need fixing, that need to be illuminated,” Blinken said.

Blinken took cognisance of the journalists who have died while covering the ongoing war in Ukraine, including two journalists associated with Fox News and journalist-filmmaker Brent Renaud.

“War of aggression on Ukraine is just one of many conflicts around the globe where journalists are putting their lives on the line right now as we speak, as we gather, in order to report the news,” he said.

He also pointed out the oppression faced by journalists under repressive regimes. “Around the world, governments – as well as non-state actors like terrorist groups and criminal organisations – threaten, harass, imprison, and attack journalists every week,” he said. “...When individual journalists are threatened, when they’re attacked, when they’re imprisoned, the chilling effects reach far beyond their targets. Some in the media start to self-censor. Others flee. Some stop reporting altogether.”

He added, “When repressive governments come after journalists, human rights defenders, labour leaders, others in civil society are usually not far behind.”

The situation in Afghanistan found special mention, with Blinken warning that the Taliban has “systematically repressed the Afghan independent press, particularly women journalists and those working in rural areas.” He also touched upon the alleged surveillance of journalists using Israeli spyware Pegasus, saying 30 journalists from El Salvador had been potentially targeted.

“Overwhelming majority of crimes against journalists worldwide are carried out with impunity,” he said. He added that this sent a “clear message” to perpetrators that they could get away with such crimes.

Blinken wrapped up by thanking journalists around the world. “We are humbled by your courage. We are in awe of your commitment to providing the public with truth,” he said.

On Tuesday, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders released its World Press Freedom Index. India’s ranking fell to 150 out of 180 countries this year, as opposed to to 142 in 2021 and 2022. The report described India as "one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the media". Among the countries that Blinken mentioned, Myanmar ranked at 176; Russia at 155; and Afghanistan at 156.