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World Press Freedom Day: May 3
Fight against poverty also newsworthy: Kofi Annan
In his message on World Press Freedom Day UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has reminded journalists the world over that while the war in Iraq has been a major recent pre-occupation for press and politicians alike, battles of another kind - against poverty, discrimination and disease, for example - also warrant attention.

He says, "Information is, undoubtedly, a source of power. Those who have access to a free and independent media have more options, as well as the information they need to take better advantage of them. World Press Freedom Day is an important reminder of the contribution that journalists play in the information age, especially in the protection of human rights and the promotion of development and this day is also one on which we should remember and pay tribute to journalists who have been killed in the line of duty, or whose reporting has led to their imprisonment and detention.

"According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 136 journalists were in jail and thirty-six journalists were killed in 2003, and at least 17 have been killed in the first three months of 2004.
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