through any media and regardless of frontiers.” The key words here are “without interference”. For the Commonwealth fully to
embrace the sentiments expressed in the various Declarations, from Harare onwards, a lot needs to change. If Commonwealth countries are
going to nurture independent and effective media then it is in the hands of many Commonwealth governments and Parliaments to change the laws that stifle freedom of expression. There is no doubt that the
media in some countries need to change too. Too often ill- researched and poorly written stories appear which are
inaccurate or libellous. There is no excuse for this; but great strides can be made through effective and well-funded training institutes and, in the final analysis, by effective and informed media laws.
Harassment, intimidation and repression That is not to underestimate the very real problems that journalists in too many Commonwealth countries face. Many suffer harassment and intimidation on a daily basis as they try to do their work, which is to inform their readers of matters of national and international concern. This harassment and intimidation is often at the hands of private
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A free media is universally recognized as one of the building blocks of democracy.