District Administrator comments on International Press Freedom Day

To mark International Press Freedom Day on 3 May, District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst emphasises the importance of a free press and a diverse media landscape:

"In times of increasing social polarisation and the spread of misinformation, critical and fact-based reporting is more important than ever. The media make an indispensable contribution to opinion-forming - and also to monitoring political processes.

We are concerned to see that freedom of the press is coming under increasing pressure worldwide - but also in Europe. This is a development that we must not tolerate and that we as a society must resolutely oppose.

A free press and diverse media landscape play a key role in shaping opinion and social cohesion. After all, journalists are not only providers of information, but also guardians of our democratic values."