By United States of America Embassy Georgetown Chargé d’Affaires
Bryan Hunt
GEORGETOWN—World Press Freedom Day in Guyana has special meaning in 2015. The country is approaching national elections and it is critically important for the press to provide fair and balanced coverage to educate and inform Guyanese citizens about the issues and the positions of the contesting parties. The media is often called the fourth branch of government (or the “fourth estate”). That’s because it monitors the political process in order to ensure that political players don’t abuse the democratic process. The responsibility of the press is daunting. Editors and television executives must weigh the public’s right to know against the potential for inciting civil unrest by publishing or televising inflammatory news stories. This is responsible journalism.
This year’s theme is “Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, & Media Safety in the Digital Age.” President Obama has said “that investigative journalism, explanatory journalism, journalism that exposes corruption and justice gives voice to the different
