Our View: Media freedom must be protected

A free press is a cornerstone of democracy.
It helps protect this critical part of society and keeps politicians and those in power honest and accountable.
It exposes wrongdoing and highlights issues of importance.
A free press also provides a platform for debate and opinion, where people can express views without fear of repercussion.
Today is World Press Freedom Day and the theme this year is the importance of a free press for democracy, whether emerging or well established. Its tagline? Silence kills democracy ... But a free press talks.
At a local level, the Bay of Plenty Times and bayofplentytimes.co.nz bring you important and relevant local news and stories.
We cover councils and businesses and other official organisations such as the courts.
Our job is to report facts and opinions - and sometimes these upset certain people. By law, judges and coroners can suppress information and we will always comply with such orders.
But at times others without this legal authority try to pressure editorial executives into censoring or suppressing information.
We have never and will never give in to such bullying. Our editorial decisions are made independently without fear or favour.
We are here to reflect democracy, not to give a few people the chance to manipulate what the public reads and sees.
Unfortunately journalists in some overseas countries do not enjoy this independence or freedom. For some, their job is dangerous.
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers is the global organisation of the world's press. It is committed to defending and promoting a free and independent press.
It also provides chilling statistics.
A total of 66 journalists and other media workers were killed around the world last year while doing their jobs. Others were beaten, jailed and threatened.
Mexico and Pakistan are the most deadly countries for journalists but others such as Honduras, Mynmar, Uganda, and Turkey also rate a mention.
Imagine living in a country where reporters are killed for trying to bring you a story. Imagine a country where the government does as it pleases and is not accountable to its citizens. Imagine a city whose council spends ratepayer money on a whim and can keep it secret.
It is vital we continue to fight for and protect a free press and democracy.