According to various human rights organizations, global press freedoms declined last year to their lowest point in the past decade. Reporters, editors and publishers face intimidation, surveillance and threats to their lives, and there are mounting restrictions on the free flow of news and information. Last year also was one of the worst years ever for the number of international journalists killed.

    To meet this growing challenge to freedom of expression, Congressman Chris Smith will introduce legislation early next week along with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Joe Pitts (PA-16). The first World Press Freedom Day was set by the United Nations as May 3 in 1993.

    Entitled the World Press Freedom Protection Act of 2015, the bill allows the U.S. to respond to press freedom restrictions worldwide by authorizing the President—based on credible evidence—to deny U.S. entry visas to individuals who are responsible for the arrest, intimidation and other threats to international journalists, as well as the censorship of the free flow of news information. The bill also authorizes the President to deny “I” (media) visas to “executives of state-owned media organizations” operating in the U.S., if U.S. journalists were “expelled, experienced extended, undue visa delays or denials, or faced intimidation or violence” in the past year. This authorization targets only managing executives, not working journalists, from state-owned media organizations.

     “Freedom of expression is critical to any democratic society that respects human rights.  Without true media freedom, citizens lack the ability to receive the information necessary to understand or exercise their rights. Businesses are unable to obtain the information necessary to make wise and sustainable investments,” Smith said. “A world without free journalism is a scary place. Sadly, there are many, many stories to tell of human rights abuses all around the world. News reporters can give a voice to voiceless victims, make sure atrocities do not go untold and shed light in dark places.”

    Media freedom has been a longstanding concern for Congressman Smith, who has held numerous human rights hearing examining freedom of expression, including June 22, 2006, and December 8, 2011, hearings on Internet freedom.

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