EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell issued a statement concerning World Press Freedom Day.

Ambassador Hartzell believes quality and non-partisan journalism is a vaccine against disinformation.

The EU joins celebrations on #WorldPressFreedomDay !

Quality journalism is the ‘vaccine’ against disinformation. Dedicated, professional journalists are key to building strong democracies.

Many thanks for your crucial contributions! pic.twitter.com/JeJ0xfG18U

— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) May 3, 2021

“In today’s digital era, we are drowning in information, especially in the Covid-19-related infodemic. In this context, quality and non-partisan journalism is a vaccine against disinformation, and journalists are our key allies in helping democracies function. Many thanks for your crucial contributions. The EU stands with you and for the freedom needed for you to do your important work,” he underscored.

In line with tradition, Ambassador Hartzell also used this occasion to launch the 2021 EU Prize for Journalism.

“Today we launch the ninth edition of the EU Prize for Journalism. The Prize recognizes and rewards the highest standards of journalistic ethics, professionalism, and quality. A month ago, I awarded the winners of the EU Prize for Journalism 2020 for their excellent entries demonstrating a deep understanding of relevant and complex themes to the modern Georgian society,” he stated.

“On World Press Freedom Day, I would like to stress how paramount the role of free, independent, and professional press is to build confidence, lasting peace, and healthy democracies,” the Head of EUMM Marek Szczygieł noted on the occasion of the launch of the EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism.

“In conflict or post-conflict situations, this means a sensible, free of prejudice, ethical, and accurate reporting, otherwise called Peace Journalism. It is in order to encourage such practices, and reward the best works each year, that the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia is launching, as part of the EU Prize for Journalism, a Special Prize for Peace Journalism and best conflict-sensitive reporting,” the Head of EUMM declared.

The EU Prize for Journalism was established by the European Union Delegation to Georgia in 2012 aiming to encourage professionalism and ethical conduct in Georgian journalism.

Detailed information and rules for submission are available here.

On #WPFD2021 it is my pleasure to announce the next -ninth- edition of #EUPrizeforJournalism!
?https://t.co/j5SkvNFHMY
The Prize rewards the highest standards of journalistic ethics, professionalism & quality here in ??.
Congrats again to the 2020 winners awarded last month! pic.twitter.com/nrnLvK0fSl

— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) May 3, 2021

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day. The day is marked to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.