Representatives from international blogs and journalism groups gathered today at United Nations headquarters in New York City to participate in a public panel discussion on freedom of expression. The US State Department organized the event to mark the 17th annual World Press Freedom Day, and invited speakers included the NY Director of Reporters Without Borders, the founder of Chinese blog network Boxun, and a professor from Drexel Academy who studies media in China.
Materials distributed by the State Department also highlighted China as a top offender in press censorship, and Reporters Without Borders representative Tala Dowlatshahi cited China as having a media environment that hinders free expression, along with Mexico, Cuba and Iraq. The US also highlighted recent initiatives by the administration, stating that “[a]s part of President George W. Bush’s Freedom Agenda, the United States views freedom of the press as a key component of democracy.”
Nora Younis, an Egyptian blogger, made an emotional call for international support of journalists in her homeland. Ms. Younis cited a recent 4-year jail sentence for government criticism as a troubling example of Egypt’s media censorship.
In a question-and-answer session following introductions, a representative from the European Union asked about what can be done to put pressure on corporate responsibility.
The event was not without its own controversy. Carolyn Vadino, Deputy Spokeman for the US said that the United Nations refused to circulate an American flyer promoting the event stating that it was unfair to single out Egypt, a member state, for press censorship.
A gentleman from the Open Net Inititaive commented the danger of becoming to focused on ranking offendors and placing blame, stating, “when we focus on China, we ignore censorship around the world.” He cited the fact that Blogspot is blocking not only China but also Pakistan and Ethiopia. “By starting to rank countries we actually start to miss that this problem is so global.”
Media representatives attending the event included Fox News and a major correspondent for Al-Jazeera.