Today, we commemorate World Press Freedom Day. It comes at a troubling time for the international press — and for the public it serves. Particularly concerning for the United States, data shows that the U.S. is far from the beacon of this democratic principle it once was.
Before you read on at the link, think of where you’d expect the U.S. to fall in a press freedom ranking of 180 nations and territories. See how your number compares to the annual Reporters Without Borders’ RSF Press Freedom Index.
There are a few things in life that bring me joy, and one of them is my weekly trip to the library. Stepping inside feels like entering a portal of possibility.
I’ve written a lot about libraries as a local community amenity and myriad ways our libraries support our communities beyond providing free access to books and periodicals. There’s also the individual, personal connection many of us have to libraries, including fond memories from childhood. Some of my earliest memories are accompanying my grandmother and great-grandmother to the library, where we’d all load up with a stack of books to devour in a weekend. (Pictured: My great-grandmother volunteers at the library.)
Now, from the vantage point of my work at Editor & Publisher, I see the shared missions of libraries and local news media: to inform and build communities, expand access to knowledge and defend the First Amendment. In honor of National Library Week, I spoke with the American Library Association’s president, Sam Helmick, about the week of celebration—with the theme “Find Your Joy”—and its critical call to action. Click the link to read, and please share your thoughts on your local library in the comments.
Gretchen A. Peck 