WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY - The Foreign Press Association (USA) – Launches “The FPA Sharp Pen Award”, for Press Freedom Fighters!
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The British writer Sir Terry Pratchett wisely said, “The pen is mightier than the sword, if the sword is very short, and the pen is very sharp.”

He could have added that, despite the brutal reality and truth of his statement, an army of very sharp pens deployed in unison can be effective as well! Which is why the century old Foreign Press Association has been taking up its cudgels and computers to protest suppression of the press around the world, from Hong Kong to Egypt to Myanmar, Rwanda, the Philippines and Belarus – and indeed violence against reporters covering protests here in the US.
 
We should maintain our vigilance against such attempts by governments, corporations and factions to intimidate and suborn press freedom and work with other press organization here and worldwide to fight back.
 
To mark World Press Freedom Day we invite nominations for the FPA’s first “Sharp Pen Award” for upholding press freedom in the face of the sword in 2020-21. Nominations will be accepted through September 2021 for international journalists worldwide who with their sharp pens have demonstrated commitment to Freedom of the Press highlighting significant local or global issues.

The FPA Sharp Pen award will be one of several awards given at this year’s FPA Centennial Foreign Press Association Awards event for coverage of the US by international journalists and students, the details of which will be announced in the coming weeks. 
 
Today to commemorate World Press Freedom Day please share your nominations for FPA’s initial “Sharp Pen Award”for upholding press freedom “in the face of the sword.”

If you have any comments or questions, reach out to us at +1 (212) 370-1054 and fpa@foreignpressassociation.org

Best wishes,

Ian Williams
President, Foreign Press Association USA
Ian.williams@foreignpressassociation.org
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