Today is World Press Freedom Day, following an annual tradition since the UN General Assembly voted to approve it as an official designation back in 1993.
In the 1990s, no one would have considered the United States as a nation whose press freedoms were under threat. That would have been more rightly aimed at so-called banana republics or authoritarian nations like Russia, China and some places in South America, Asia and Africa. But the U.S.? Never.
And here we are, 25 years later and the media here in "the land of free" are under attack. Under attack by, of all people, the very person whose job it is to uphold and protect our Constitution, whose wise words recognize, very specifically, the importance of a free press to keep those who govern us honest and working in the public interest.
Who among us would have ever thought we'd be hearing daily attacks on our press, coming directly from the White House and from some top leaders in our government?
It's a dangerous path we're on.
The theme of the 2018 celebration highlights the importance of an enabling legal environment for press freedom, and gives special attention to the role of an independent judiciary in ensuring legal guarantees for press freedom and the prosecution of crimes against journalists.
At the same time, it addresses the role of the media in sustainable development, especially during elections - as a watchdog fostering transparency, accountability and the rule of law. The theme also aims to explore legislative gaps with regard to freedom of expression and information online, and the risks of regulating online speech.