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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday marked World Press Freedom Day by drawing attention to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script English((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Press Freedom-us-blinken
HEADLINE: Blinken: Journalists Around the World Are ‘Under Siege’
TEASER: Secretary of state vows US will continue to stand with journalists facing censorship, imprisonment and worse on World Press Freedom Day
PUBLISHED AT: 5/3/23 at 9pm
BYLINE: Cindy Saine
CONTRIBUTOR: Ted Benson, Dilge Timocin
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SCRIPT EDITORS: newhouse, Reifenrath, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Dilge Timocin , VOA Graphics, AP, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:44
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
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((INTRO))
[[U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday marked World Press Freedom Day by drawing attention to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.]]
((NARRATOR))
Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined United Nations senior leaders and others in saying that freedom of the press is under attack across the globe.
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State))
"We know that journalists around the world are increasingly under siege, under siege in a whole variety of ways. That's now manifested itself once again very powerfully in Evan’s [Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, detained in Russia] detention and incarceration in Moscow, profoundly unjustly, for doing his job. We’re intensely engaged with the Russians to seek his freedom, to seek his immediate release. "
((NARRATOR))
Wall Street journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appeared at a Moscow court last month and was denied release on bail. He was arrested for alleged espionage in a case that has drawn international condemnation. Blinken said Russia is wrongfully detaining people to use them as political pawns.
Two protesters interrupted The Washington Post event with Secretary Blinken Wednesday, calling for freeing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is imprisoned in the U.K. and faces espionage charges in the U.S. The incident prompted moderator David Ignatius to say, “We’re here to celebrate freedom of expression, and we just experienced it.”
At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had this message on World Press Freedom Day.
((António Guterres, UN Secretary-General))
“Stop the threats and attacks. Stop detaining and imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs. Stop the lies and disinformation. Stop targeting truth and truth-tellers.”
((NARRATOR))
Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders released its 2023 World Press Freedom Index Wednesday, which analyzes the work environment for journalists in 180 countries and territories. The report for 2023 says the situation is “very serious” in 31 countries, “difficult” in 42, “problematic” in 55, and “good” or “satisfactory” in 52 countries.
Norway was the country with the most press freedom, taking the number one spot in the index. The United States was 45th, while Russia dropped to 164th. China ranked second to lowest, at 179, and at the very bottom of the list was North Korea.
Cindy Saine, VOA News
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 3, 2023 21:07 EDT
BylineCindy Saine
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America, Voice of America - English
