Honouring journalists on #WorldPressFreedomDay

On May 3 2019, journalists from all over India and the world came together to celebrate the 26th edition of #WorldPressFreedomDay. Journalists have an important role in speaking truth to power, sowing the seeds of democratic norms and holding our elected leaders and institutions to account.

On #PressFreedom day, we have an opportunity to recognise and remind ourselves of the importance of the freedom of the press in elevating public discourse and throwing light on civic issues. Through the accurate reporting of facts, journalists can inform the public, break down stereotypes, uncover human stories and illuminate solutions to complex problems.

Recognising our role in supporting and fostering press freedom, Twitter activated a special emoji for multilingual hashtags including #WorldPressFreedomDay and #विश्वप्रेसस्वतंत्रतादिवस to amplify individual voices from the media on why they stand together for the freedom of the press.

We have also seen incredible testimonies and Tweets across our service from our news partners throughout the country. Sharing in multiple languages —including English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, and Kannada— we celebrate their role in elevating and protecting Indian democracy.

Along with journalists, Twitter has also worked with civil society partners to encourage dialogue on Twitter.

We understand the critical necessity of having women journalists feel empowered to use our platform, and acknowledge the challenges they face. This is true everyday, but especially true on #WorldPressFreedomDay, which is why we’re are celebrating this important work through sparking conversation with the hashtag #HerStory

We encourage you to join the conversation and share your stories on the importance of press freedom and what being a journalist means to you. We share our gratitude for the journalists and news media that bring us trusted information every day.

Tweet with #WorldPressFreedomDay, and follow @TwitterNews. Thank you for sharing your stories on Twitter.