World Press Freedom Day 

The IFJ believes global battles for safety, decent work and quality journalism can only be won if journalists stand together in defence of their rights.

In a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day 2008, the IFJ has called for a renewal of global solidarity among journalists to combat the threats facing media.

"The future of journalism depends upon building fresh solidarity," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. "Our work is at the heart of the struggle for democracy and human rights."

The IFJ says the future of journalism will not be guaranteed by politically-inspired publicity stunts or by dumbing down media and cutting editorial budgets.

Across the globe unions in membership of the IFJ, the world's largest journalists' group,  are marking World Press Freedom Day with national events and activities to highlight the crisis facing people working in journalism.

Around the world, IFJ members are staging events to mark world press freedom day, including the events listed below.

Afghanistan

AIJA and CPAJ will hold a press conference and protest to campaign against Uluma scholars and media owners who pressure freedom of expression based on religious grounds. In the lead-up to World Press Freedom Day, the AIJA organised a meeting with Uluma scholars and media owners on April 19 to discuss the freedom of expression issues in Afghanistan. , with Tamadon TV (belonging to scholars) and Noorin (owned by political factions) demanding the Ministry to force other stations to stop broadcasting the controversial Indian soap operas

Africa

IFJ Africa Office Director Gabriel Baglo will make a presentation on journalists' working conditions in Africa at the World Press Freedom Day event organised by UNESCO in Maputo, Mozambique.

Asia

In solidarity with journalist colleagues in some of the most dangerous countries for media practice in the world, the International Federation of Journalists Asia Pacific will launch its annual South Asia Press Freedom Report on its new regional website on May 3. The IFJ Asia Pacific has chosen the theme "Press Imprisoned" to spotlight the human rights abuses against journalists in the Asia Pacific region particularly in relation to the detention of journalists for their professional work.

Australia

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance will unite a diverse range of journalists, entertainers and thinkers for its annual Press Freedom Dinner on Friday May 2 to mark World Press Freedom Day. The Dinner is the major fundraising event for the Alliance Safety and Solidarity Appeal which raises money to protect journalists and their families working in the dangerous Asia Pacific region. At last year's Press Freedom Dinner over $60 000 was raised. The Australian Press Freedom Dinner also features the launch of the 2008 Press Freedom Report, a retrospective analysis of the Australian media's triumphs and setbacks in the past 12 months.

Bangladesh

The IFJ will conduct a workshop with MassLine Media Centre on May 3-4 to boost the capacity of the media community in Bangladesh to monitor press freedom and media rights violations in Bangladesh.

Cambodia

CAPJ and UNESCO office in Cambodia with other press associations will organize WPFD in Phnom Penh by organize a meeting and will be attended by foreign ambassadors, UNESCO representative, journalists, Minister of Information, around 300 attendants.

Croatia

On occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd 2008, the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists, TUCJ, from Croatia will organize the following events:

An open debate on April 25, 2008 in the town of Sisak, on the following topics: 

a)  Present situation in the local media: Rights and freedoms of the local media and journalists 

b) TUCJ and CJA (Croatian Journalists' Association) in local media: Do we need to be organized into trade union and professional organizations?

Organizers are TUCJ and CJA and their local branches. TUCJ arguments will be presented by Gabrijela Galic TUCJ President and Zeljko Maljevac TUCJ local chapel shop steward, as well as Zdenko Duka, CJA President and Koraljka Djetelic, CJA local representative.

Participants from all the local media in the region will attend.

Traditional TUCJ action Five minutes of roaring silence, on May 3rd 2008, at 11,55 - 12,00 a.m. will be held for the 9th time this year! It has become an opportunity for journalists from all kinds of media to express their protest against threats to freedom of the media and against violation of journalists' labor and professional rights.

During these five minutes journalists stop working, TUCJ Statement written for the occasion is being read and broadcast, and after that most radio stations all over Croatia switch-off their program or just play slow music till noon.

Finland

The Finnish Union of Journalists will on Tuesday 29th April held a seminar on Press Freedom Day issues. Participating in the seminar are the Newspaper Association, PEN-Finland, Amnesty, the Media and Development Foundation VIKES, and the Finnish National Unesco-committee.

The seminar has a provocative title: "Freedom of Expression and sensorship in Finland and China". Speakers and panelists include the Union chairman Arto Nieminen, Secreatry of State for Culture and Psorts, Chief Editor of the Finnish news Agency, Secretary General of the Finnish National Olympic Committee, and other specialists and public figures.

Several newspapers around the country will on the day itself, May 3rd be publish articles on Press Freedom around the world, the Media debate in Finland, and also advertisments produced by the Newspaper Association. Some regional newspapers have a tradition to call public "Hyde park" meetings on the market squares during the day.

Gambia

Launching of the book on the life of the killed prominent Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, A Living Mirror: The Life of Deyda Hydara, by Aloa Ahmed Alota and Demba Ali Jawo. There will also be a conference with the theme Journalists as Endangers Species. It is organised by The Point Newspaper and the Gambia Press Union. The IFJ is participating in this event in Banjul at the Alliance Franco Gambienne. 

Hong Kong

A 4 day series of events, co-organised by HKJA and IFJ and supported by other press freedom groups.

• April 30 - Press conference
• May 1-2 - Seminars on press freedom in Hong Kong and China
• May 3 - Exhibition, arts fair and street demonstration.

Indonesia

AJI plans to issue a press release on WPFD, highlighting issue of criminal defamation and a workshop on May 9-10. The IFJ will present the Ethical Journalism Initiative at the Global Intermedia Dialogue in Bali on May 7-9.

Iraq

The Iraqi Union of Journalists will mark the 3rd of May with a tribute to Shihab Al-Timimi, President of the IUJ in an event with his family. Al-Timimi was shot and killed by terrorists in Baghdad in February.

 Mongolia

The Mongolian Confederation of Journalists will organise a gathering for more than 3000 journalists to celebrate World Press Freedom day and to protest the criminal law that says journalists can face 6 months to 2 years in jail for certain media offences.

A minister from the parliament will attend and Mongolian pop stars will perform for the journalists attending.

Peru

The Peruvian journalists' union National Association of Peruvian Journalists (ANP), in cooperation with the United Nations Information Centre and Unesco in Perú will hold a public demonstration on May 3 at 11:00 in the United Nations Park in Lima.  It will pay tribute to Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana who was killed in the Gaza Strip and other journalists who have given their lives for their profession.

ANP in cooperation with the Colombian Journalists Federation (FECOLPER) launches a campaign against the use of taxpayer money to fund tools used to extort money from independent journalists.

ANP Radio, the National Association of Peruvian Journalists' digital station will broadcast a special programme on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (local Peruvian time). During the radio broadcast, there will be live coverage of the demonstration in Lima and a national channel will be in contact with journalists in the country who are staging similar actions. During the programme, as well, there will be a report on press freedom violations from the Office of Journalists' Human Rights.

The live broadcast can be found at www.cronicaviva.com.pe by clicking on the radio link you will find on the upper right part of the page.

 Philippines

• AM: Wreath laying at the National Shrine of press freedom hero Marcelo H. del Pilar. Other media organizations have been invited.
• PM: Press Jam - journalists will hold a mini concert (singing will be interspersed with serious discussions of issues that journalists in the Philippines face).

Spain

The journalists group of the CCOO has published a release to remind the Spanish Government of its promises to approve a "Statute of Professional Journalism" a demand by many generations of journalists.

Sri Lanka

A silent protest march will be held from Buddha Statue in Viharamaha Devi park to temple trees on 6^th May 2008 at 12noon to hand over a letter to the President to request immediate action against the media suppression in the country. 10 banners will be displayed in Colombo city on 05^th May.

Taiwan

ATJ will organise a range of activities and campaigns for its annual Journalists' Day celebration on May 4. One focus of the actions will be the struggle still faced by the Taiwanese journalists to be allowed access to United Nations and WHO events.

 Tunisia

The SNJT will issue its Annual Report on the State of Press Freedom in Tunisia" and will hold a meeting with colleagues to discuss its findings.