Press FreedomGlobal issues
Why press freedom matters to everyone, not just journalists

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Melissa Chan
May 2, 2026Advertisement
On World Press Freedom Day, former UN special rapporteur David Kaye argues that press freedom is not only about protecting journalists, but about the public's right to know.
In a conversation with DW editor Melissa Chan, Kaye said free expression should focus on citizens as news consumers who need reliable information to hold power accountable. He warned that narrow, speaker-focused views of free speech and the growing influence of Big Tech risk weakening democratic debate.