New Delhi, May 3, 2026: (Prof.S.S.Dogra)
Marking World Press Freedom Day, the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) organized a significant panel discussion titled “Safeguarding Press Freedom Amidst Global Upheaval,” bringing together leading voices from the media fraternity to deliberate on the growing challenges faced by journalists.
The discussion was held against the backdrop of India’s decline to 157th position out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders, marking a drop of six places from the previous year. The development added urgency and relevance to the deliberations.
Prominent speakers at the event included C.K. Naik, President of the Press Association; Raghavan Srinivasan, General Secretary of the Editors Guild of India; and Dr. Waiel Awwad, President of the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia (FCC) and the International Association of Press Clubs (IAPCs). The session witnessed active participation from several journalists and media professionals.
Dr. Awwad raised serious concerns over the increasing threats to journalists, stating that attacks have evolved from isolated incidents to deliberate actions. He described this trend as a systematic attempt to suppress truth and emphasized the urgent need for stronger international mechanisms to ensure the safety of journalists. He also referred to recent targeted killings of journalists in Gaza as a grim reminder of the risks involved.
Highlighting structural issues within the media industry, Raghavan Srinivasan pointed out that troubling practices such as ownership-driven bias and editorial pressure have become normalized. He expressed concern over the diminishing understanding of core journalistic values among the new generation and underscored the financial challenges faced by traditional media due to declining audiences, which directly impact editorial independence.
C.K. Naik offered a critical introspection of the profession, remarking that internal divisions and lack of collective resistance have weakened the media’s ability to respond effectively to external pressures. He stressed the need for greater unity and solidarity within the journalist community.
Concluding the session, IWPC President Sujata Raghavan called for collective reflection and action to strengthen the foundation of journalism. She reaffirmed the role of a free press as a cornerstone of democratic values and emphasized the need to build a more resilient and supportive environment for media professionals. The press release was issued by Saroj Dhuliya, General Secretary, IWPC.
