President: Free media is crucial, especially amid current crisis

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Sunday, said that a free media was crucial, especially amid crisises such as the COVID-19 pandemic which the world now faces.

He made the remark in a tweet he issued on occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2020 is ‘Journalism without Fear or Favor’.

The President noted that crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic saw a wave of misinformation which has an adverse effect on the wellbeing of the people.

He said that it was the reason why a free media that functioned without fear or favor was crucial.

“Which is why, my government remains committed to upholding media freedom,” he added.

Maldives had climbed up in the ranks of World Press Freedom Index from 120th in 2018 to 79th this year – something which current government officials’ credit to the measures they have but in place to remedy the challenges facing the press.