Journalists can be free expression activists. Because free expression is essential for their profession. If any where not available free expression or media freedom a journalist can not play their professional role. I think every journalist should be a free expression activists.

Touhidur Rahman Staff Reporter The Daily Sangbad Dhaka. Bangladesh touhidra@yahoo.com

I have this argument with journalists all the time. I think eschewing activism in a debate on Free Speech rights of the press in order to maintain the appearance of journalistic detachment is to commit an absurdity.

I think there is a place for many kinds of journalism. If you imagine a spectrum where full advocacy journalism is on one end, and traditional mainstream models are on the other end, the most traditional, most conservative forms of journalism should not go so far as to relinquish responsibility as unabashed, open defenders of their OWN Free Speech.

That I think is fundamental. Some do not agree.

At the very least, the most conservative journalist (I don't mean politically conservative, I mean conservative in the lending of support to causes and stringent in remaining independent from the issues, the level of detachment, the level to which a journalist subverts him or her self into an intelligent conduit for fair and truthful information from all perspectives) is a rights defender whenever he or she stands up for press Free Speech rights. In this way, most journalists are human rights defenders.

But some do not believe in relinquishing the appearance of impartiality on this issue, and will not directly defend their own Free Speech rights. It's not credible.

One comment on the wording of the blog entry: This issue is relevant in all countries. Free Speech battles rage all countries regularly. Casting the question as one relevant to countries where Free Speech challenges occur suggests there are any countries where they don't occur. I disagree. It is a battle everywhere everyday on some level, some far more serious than others. It is a universal struggle as old as the human race. For as long as any kind of voice is quashed or marginalized anywhere, we will have these challenges. That tendency appears to be part of human nature.

all journalists should pro-people activists.

akhand independent journalist Bhubaneswar, India

I believe that there's a place for advocacy journalism - and a critical need for it. Journalists are not merely reporters; we are increasingly thought leaders - that is what the reading and viewing public expects from us: an informed, analytical take on an event. It's not as simple as advocating for freedom of expression. Few of us would oppose such a worthy cause. But when it comes to more contentious issues, such as same sex marriage or legalised prostitution, depending on your stance you may object to another journalist's right to advocate for their cause. I believe journalists should be entitled to contribute to opinion-pages, which are often reserved for some or other self-proclaimed specialist or expert. Credibility is not compromised when you declare your position.
Angelique Arde Cape Town, South Africa

Journalists can be free expression activists though there are lots of odds and challenges against them.The responsibility of a committed journalist must be to voice out injustice,oppression and exploitation even in the face of life threaten consequences.He cannot disguise the truth or sit on the fence because the hallmark of good journalism is seeking the truth and presenting it objectively and factually as possible. George

If journalists have to choose between 1) being silent and safe from personal harm, and 2) speaking out to enhancing their community at risk to themselves, it is a tragic situation. This is what we have in many parts of the world.

Anonymous speech allows the journalist to sidestep this choice and do the right thing. Digital technology is a godsend. But anonymity is weak in the internet world though it appears strong.

At least in some parts of asia this puts activists, journalists and bloggers under repression. For example the cases reported here http://bit.ly/2HrCZb

Laws need to be harmonized for all of cyberspace. When outdated laws are being dragged over to cyberspace it is usually a sign of some disease that lurks below.

Of course! Journalism at its best of expressing truth is real activism.

have a nice day

lisa

Some international media organizations are going to humiliate the independent Somali journalists who are working hell circumstances and lack of payment

So, can we say journalists are free to be activists?

Thanks Abdikarin Ahmed Somalia

wHY not?

AT A time when more and more newspapers are becoming commodities...the journalists' voice is often losti n the din of corporate interests. I am yet to meet a journalist who is in the profession without the requisite profession. In big or small way, journalists do contribute in making a difference. No journalism after a certain level can be objective. If there is a Genocide in my country and my government expects me to be "objective", is that possible? Journalists should have the right of expression. Deepal INDIA.

Of course! Journalism at its best of expressing truth is real activism. One in a coin! Without one, the other is nothing. Not all journalists, though, are activists and free expressionists!

In fact, we need a society and country friendly to the journalists. And thus we can create friendly environment for the journalists to express their opinion freely and frankly. Parvez Babul, Associate Editor, weekly Manikganjer khobor, Dhaka; Bangladesh. parvezbabul@gmail.com

Who is the 'voice of the voiceless'? Can journalism actually flourish or be truly practiced in an environment where freedom of expression is suppressed? How vast is the difference between the freedom to publish [freedom of the press] and those of expression [to hold opinion and express same freely]? A journalist fighting a system to ensure freedom of expression is not an activist, s/he could be in that role though, s/he is only ensuring that access to information and the public right to know are upheld; these are the basics for sound journalism. However, I think people or journalists who publish half truths, out right lies and defame others' character should not be protected or shielded under the canopy of freedom of expression or press. Those who enjoy freedom of the press and expression are charged with hefty responsibility of telling a balanced truth. Where a doubt crops, a court of competent jurisdiction, not of a corrupt, tyrannical regime or politically controlled system, is the final arbiter. This way freedom is always protected.

Cheechiay Jablasone Delaware, USA Liberian Journalist

A journalist can not be denied the right to participate. At times and in cases, when he is silenced in his own country, wrongly expulsed and dicredited by the State authorities, the new way open today is the use of Internet from another country. In some cases that is comparable to a duty, not only professionally but also ethically, morally, even legally. That is quite evidently the case, if for instance the IFJ do not ansver questions about the legality of a silencing, of an expulsion and of the silent acquiescense of the national federations controlled by the State or party interests.

Penttijuhani Jarvinen ex from Finland

During my 30 year career as a journalist I have always considered the defense of freedom of expression as a companion of independent journalism. Freedom of expression is often a precondition to exercise journalism and respect its highest standards of impartiality. Advocating for the protection of sources, the "right to know" legislation or the repeal of insult laws helps journalists to be better journalists. It enhances rather than debases their independence. If we look at the issue from the other side of the mirror let us remember that there is a much worse scenario: there are out there in some authoritarian or semi-authoritarian countries "official journalists" in state-owned or private media who advocate for censorship and repression of their free-thinking and dissenting colleagues! Jean-Paul Marthoz Foreign affairs columnist, Le Soir (Brussels)

I believe that Freedom of the Press includes the right for journalists to advocate for a cause or issue, just as long as opinion is clearly labeled as such.

Michael Ireland Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

True journalism practice is an activist profession. Any journalist understands that he operates in the public interest and that the ruling class will always attempt to interfere in his operation. In order to protect this delicate function within a democracy, the journalist must be ready to fight any infringement on the right of freedom of expression and other such rights that could curtain their performances. This does not necessarily make him to be biased in his practice or prevent him from speaking truth to power.

Sola Isola Ibadan, Nigeria

I feel that journalists can be great free expression activists but the problem is that journalists are often silenced or their work is blocked from the mainstream. This is quite possibly the biggest challenge.

Journalism is and should be handled like professional job. Activism will not make you publish news and reports as it were but your own view to the things happening around you. I think activist should be activist and journalist should be journalist. Combining the two would make the journalist involved sentimental and biased in reporting.

Fardowsa in somalia i agree any way journalists can stragle independence of their work, journalists here have this troubled since one guy who named Faruk claim in the name of Somali journalists only on his way , and that is why IFJ is ofending other local unions and praise this guy who has no confident of all well known journalists in Somalia. by fardowsa

IFJ should answer this question; can journalists be free expression activists?

Best Regards The Somali Journalists' Rights Agency (SOJRA)

For more information please contact us: Tel: +2521-658-568 Mobile: +2521-5531-800 +2525-989-886 +2521-284357 Email: info@sojra.org sojra2007@yahoo.com Or visit: www.sojra.org

Impartiality does not dehumanise people and forbid them from asserting their rights to their profession. If there is a semblance of press freedom in some banana republics of the world today, it is because some journalists dared to fight for it. I would fight for my right to practice my profession, any time anywhere, without fear or favour.

Journalists are by definition free expression activists . online online