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‘Where We Are’: A Photo Essay Contest for Exploring Community

Using an immersive Times series as inspiration, we invite teenagers to document the local communities that interest them. Contest dates: Feb. 14 to March 20.

By The Learning Network

Update, May 16: We hope to announce winners by early June.

The Covid-19 pandemic closed schools and canceled dances. It emptied basketball courts, theaters, recreation centers and restaurants. It sent clubs, scout troops and other groups online.

Now, many people have ventured back out into physical spaces to gather with one another once again. What does in-person “community” look like today? And what are the different ways people are creating it?

In this new contest, inspired by “ Where We Are ” — an immersive visual project from The New York Times that explores the various places around the world where young people come together — we’re inviting teenagers to create their own photo essays to document the local, offline communities that interest them.

Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below to see if this is right for your students. We have also posted a student forum and a step-by-step lesson plan . Please ask any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.

Here’s what you need to know:

The challenge, a few rules, resources for teachers and students, frequently asked questions, submission form.

Using The Times’s Where We Are series as a guide, create a photo essay that documents an interesting local, offline community. Whether your grandmother’s Mah Jong club, the preteens who hang out at a nearby basketball court, or the intergenerational volunteers who walk the dogs for your neighborhood animal shelter, this community can feature people of any age, as long as it gathers in person.

We encourage you to choose a community you are not a part of for reasons we explain below, in the F.A.Q.

Whichever community you choose, however, it’ll be your job to interview and photograph them. Then, you’ll pull everything together in a visual essay, which will tell the group’s story via a short introduction and a series of captioned photographs.

Your photo essay MUST include:

Between six and eight images, uploaded in the order in which you’d like us to view them.

A short caption of no more than 50 words for each image that helps explain what it shows and why it is important to the story.

A short introduction of up to 300 words that offers important background or context that complements and adds to the information in the photos and captions. You might consider the introduction the beginning of your essay, which the photos and captions will then continue. Together they will answer questions like who this community is, how it came to be, and why it matters. (Our How-To guide offers more detail about this.)

At least one quote — embedded in either the introduction or one of the captions — from a member of the community about what makes it meaningful.

In addition to the guidelines above, here are a few more details:

You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate , and all students must have parent or guardian permission to enter. Please see the F.A.Q. section for additional eligibility details.

The photographs and writing you submit should be fundamentally your own — they should not be plagiarized, created by someone else or generated by artificial intelligence.

Updated, Feb. 29 : Please keep digital manipulation and postprocessing to a minimum in general. (That is, you may use editing software for minor corrections such as one might make in a darkroom — cropping, adjusting brightness, balancing colors, etc. — but please do not alter the reality of the photo in any way.)

Your photo essay should be original for this contest. That means it should not already have been published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.

Keep in mind that the work you send in should be appropriate for a Times audience — that is, something that could be published in a family newspaper (so, please, no curse words).

You may work alone, in pairs, or in groups of up to four for this challenge , but students should submit only one entry each.

Remember to get permission from those you photograph, and to collect their contact information. Learn more about this in the F.A.Q. below.

You must also submit a short, informal “artist’s statement” as part of your submission, that describes your process. These statements, which will not be used to choose finalists, help us to design and refine our contests. See the F.A.Q. to learn more.

All entries must be submitted by March 20, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time using the electronic form below.

Use these resources to help you create your photo essay:

A related Student Opinion question to help you brainstorm ideas before you begin taking photos.

A step-by-step guide that uses examples from the Where We Are series to walk students through creating their own.

Free links to the “Where We Are” Collection :

1. The Magic of Your First Car 2. At This Mexican Restaurant, Everyone is Family 3. Where the Band Kids Are 4. In This Nigerian Market, Young Women Find a Place of Their Own 5. At Camp Naru, Nobody Is ‘an Outlier’ 6. For Black Debutantes in Detroit, Cotillion Is More Than a Ball 7. At This Wrestling Academy, Indian Girls Are ‘Set Free’ 8. In Seville, Spain, These Young Rappers Come Together to Turn ‘Tears Into Rhymes’ 9. For a Queer Community in Los Angeles, This Public Park Is a Lifeline 10. In Guatemala, A Collective of Young Artists Finds Family Through Film 11. On a Caribbean Island, Young People Find Freedom in ‘Bike Life’ 12. At This Texas Campus Ministry, ‘Inclusive Love’ Is the Mission 13. For Young Arab Americans in Michigan, the Hookah Lounge Feels like Home

An activity sheet for understanding and analyzing the Where We Are series.

Lessons on interviewing and taking photographs . While these two resources were originally created for our 2022 Profile Contest , each contains scores of tips from educators and Times journalists that can help students learn to interview, and to take and select compelling photographs that tell a story.

Our contest rubric . These are the criteria we will use to judge this contest. Keep them handy to make sure your photo essay meets all of the qualifications before entering.

Below are answers to your questions about writing, judging, the rules and teaching with this contest. Please read these thoroughly and, if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, post your query in the comments or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT CREATING YOUR PHOTO ESSAY

What is a photo essay? How does it differ from just a series of photos?

A photo essay tells a story through a series of images. These images work together and build on each other to explore a theme of some kind. The photo essays in the Where We Are series, for instance, focus on the themes of community and coming-of-age, but each through a different lens, as the three images published here illustrate. Together they are beautiful examples of how visual collections can investigate ideas by illuminating both the “big picture” and the tiny, telling details.

How do I choose a good subject for this?

Our Student Opinion forum can help via its many questions that encourage you to brainstorm local, offline communities of all kinds.

Can I be a member of the community I photograph?

You can, but we encourage you not to. Part of the point of this contest is to help you investigate the interesting subcultures in your area, and expand your understanding of “community” by finding out about groups you otherwise may never have known existed.

But we also think it will be easier to do the assignment as an outsider. You will be coming to the community with “fresh eyes” and relative objectivity, and will be able to notice things that insiders may be too close to see.

If you do choose to depict a community you are a part of, we ask that you do not include yourself in the photos.

I’d like to work with others to create this. How do I do that?

You can work alone, with a partner, or with up to three other people. So, for example, in a group of four, two people might act as photographers, while the other two interview community members. When you are ready to edit your material and write up what you have discovered, the interviewers could use their notes to handle the short introduction, while the photographers could edit their shots into a meaningful visual sequence, and help collaborate on the captions.

Please remember, however, that you can only have your name on one submission.

Do I need permission to photograph the people in this community?

You do. It is good journalistic practice to tell the people you are photographing why you are taking pictures of them, and to ask their permission. They should also know that, if you are a winner, their image and name may appear online.

Though you do not have to have a signed permission sheet from every participant, if you are a winner and we publish your work, we will need to be able to reach those depicted, so please get their contact information before you take their pictures. (If you are photographing young children, this is especially important. Secure a parent or guardian’s permission first.)

An important exception to this: If you are taking photos of crowds in public places, such as at a sporting event, a community meeting or a local fair, you don’t need to worry about permissions, as it would be impossible to get them from all attendees.

I don’t know where to begin! What advice do you have?

Once you’ve chosen a community to photograph, begin by introducing yourself to ensure the participants are open to your project. Then, devote a bit of time to just observing, noticing how and where the members of this group spend time, what they do together, and how they relate to each other.

When you’re ready to start documenting what you find, our step-by-step guide will help you take it from there.

QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDGING

How will my photo essay be judged?

Your work will be read by New York Times journalists as well as by Learning Network staff members and educators from around the United States. We will use this rubric to judge entries.

What’s the prize?

Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to be chosen to have your work published in the print editions of The New York Times.

When will the winners be announced?

About two months after the contest has closed.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES

Who is eligible to participate in this contest?

This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry. However, high school students (including high school postgraduate students) who are taking one or more college classes can participate. Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate. In addition, students age 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate.

The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.

Why are you asking for an Artist’s Statement about our process? What will you do with it?

All of us who work on The Learning Network are former teachers. One of the many things we miss, now that we work in a newsroom rather than a classroom, is being able to see how students are reacting to our “assignments” in real time — and to offer help, or tweaks, to make those assignments better. We’re asking you to reflect on what you did and why, and what was hard or easy about it, in large part so that we can improve our contests and the curriculum we create to support them. This is especially important for new contests, like this one.

Another reason? We have heard from many teachers that writing these statements is immensely helpful to students. Stepping back from a piece and trying to put into words what you wanted to express, and why and how you made artistic choices to do that, can help you see your piece anew and figure out how to make it stronger. For our staff, they offer important context that help us understand individual students and submissions, and learn more about the conditions under which students around the world create.

Whom can I contact if I have questions about this contest or am having issues submitting my entry?

Leave a comment on this post or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH THIS CONTEST

Do my students need a New York Times subscription to access these resources?

No. Students can get free access to the entire Where We Are series through The Learning Network . (All 13 photo essays are listed above, in our Resources section.) In addition, our related student forum , activity sheet and “how to” guide are also free, as are everything they link to.

However, if you are interested in learning more about school subscriptions, visit this page .

I’m not an art teacher. Can this work for my students too?

Yes! Though this is a new contest for us, we chose it in part because the theme of “community” is such an important one in subjects across the curriculum. In fact, we hope it might inspire teachers in different curriculum areas to collaborate.

For example, students in social studies could investigate the role of community locally, learning about the history of different influential groups. An English teacher might support students as they interview and craft their introductions and photo captions, while an art teacher could offer tips for photo composition. And, of course, a journalism teacher could guide the full project, or work with other teachers to publish the most successful results in the school paper.

How do my students prove to me that they entered this contest?

After they press “Submit” on the form below, they will see a “Thank you for your submission.” line appear. They can take a screenshot of this message. Please note: Our system does not currently send confirmation emails.

This contest is closed.

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Silencing the Truth: The Global Crisis of Press Freedom and Journalist Safety

By Xuanjie “Coco” Huang , Communications Intern.

In a world where information is power, the erosion of press freedom strikes at the core of democracy itself. In 2024, the fight for truth has never been more crucial, and the stakes have never been higher. “The decline of media freedom and the rise in threats to the safety of journalists is a worldwide trend, most sharply evident in backsliding democracies and recalcitrant totalitarian States,” said Irene Khan , UN Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion. 

According to Reporters Without Borders’ 2023 World Press Freedom Index , which assesses the journalism climate in 180 countries and territories, the situation is “very serious” in 11% of the countries, “difficult” in 21%, “problematic” in 38%, and “good” or “satisfactory” in 29%; in other words, more than half of these countries are unsafe for journalists. 

In the U.S., 57% of journalists surveyed said they are “extremely or very concerned about potential restrictions on press freedoms in the country.” Also notably, more than 95 journalists and media workers have been killed over four months of the Israel-Gaza war — the deadliest time for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) began gathering this data in 1992. 

Why is this happening? A major reason is that impunity for crimes against journalists remains the norm . Ironically, between 2013 — the year the U.N. declared the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists — and 2023, more than 260 journalists were killed . No one has been held accountable in about 80% of those cases. With a majority of murders unresolved, would-be perpetrators may become emboldened and put journalists in greater danger. Such impunity also instills fear among other journalists with more self-censorship and reluctance to carry out their duties, leading to a decline in public-interest reporting. Thus, there needs to be a better way to hold entities accountable for harming journalists, requiring concerted efforts from various stakeholders including civil societies, governments, and international organizations. 

The role of civil society

Civil societies can play a crucial role in supporting press freedom by raising awareness, pressuring governments, and monitoring and reporting cases of journalist killings. An example is Forbidden Stories , a nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigative journalism on the murders and incarceration of journalists worldwide. The organization was established in 2017 by award-winning journalist Laurent Richard who was deeply traumatized after the Charlie Hebdo attack in 2015, during which Islamist terrorists killed several journalists. Thus, Forbidden Stories was born with the motto, “Killing the journalist won’t kill the story,” with a mission to continue the work of silenced journalists.

Besides cooperating with global partners to conduct and publish investigations , Forbidden Stories also operates based on an information security model , which allows journalists to drop sensitive information (eg. contacts, sources, story materials) into a secure communication channel. Through their “ SafeBox Network ,” journalists who feel at risk can securely send documents, knowing their stories will be protected beyond borders, governments, and censorship. The organization guarantees the survival of these stories, even if something happens to the journalists themselves. Supporting organizations like Forbidden Stories is essential not only for preserving stories but also for maintaining accountability and monitoring abuses against journalists. Their unique role as independent operators outside governments allows them to serve as watchdogs – groups who monitor activities, practices, or institutions to ensure compliance with rules, laws, or ethical standards. By investigating and advocating for cases, they pressure governments and safeguard the principles of transparency and democracy.

The role of government 

Governments bear the responsibility of ensuring accountability for journalist killings by establishing and enforcing laws that protect journalists and prosecute perpetrators. A UN Human Rights Council report highlights the dangerous trend of certain laws acting against press freedom, stating that “laws – from sedition to censorship – have long been used to punish journalists.” The arsenal of legal weapons includes sedition, cybersecurity, anti-terrorism, fake news laws, and more. Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa ‘s case in the Philippines exemplifies this trend. Her news organization, Rappler , covers President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial policies and actions, which led to Philippine authorities arresting Ressa for “publishing fake news stories.” Ressa’s conviction was seen by many in the international community as a politically motivated act by Duterte’s government. She faced numerous legal actions from “tax violations,” “ownership and securities fraud,” and a range of libel suits, resulting in a potential cumulative sentence of nearly 100 years. 

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression suggests that states should stop the weaponization of courts against journalists. This can be achieved by enacting laws and policies that enable the early dismissal of such cases, diminishing the damages claimed in defamation lawsuits against journalists. States should also provide legal support to victims of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), which are lawsuits intended to silence critics by burdening them with legal stress, while not having any true legal claims against the critic. States should sanction the use of SLAPP to prevent institutions from using it as a tactic to suppress critics and free speech, while simultaneously prosecuting perpetrators for abuses against journalists.

The role of international organizations

With certain states unwilling to adopt measures to protect journalists and sometimes prosecuting journalists themselves, international organizations should hold entities accountable by monitoring compliance with international human rights standards, assist countries lacking infrastructure, impose diplomatic and economic targeted sanctions , and raise awareness globally to mobilize support for press freedom and accountability. Organizations like the United Nations, UNESCO, and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) can exert diplomatic pressure on governments to fulfill their obligations. 

These organizations also provide support and resources for journalists at risk. One such initiative is the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity . Under this plan, the UN organizes training workshops and capacity-building programs to educate journalists on safety protocols, risk assessment, digital security, legal assistance, and conflict reporting. UNESCO leads the annual celebration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, which serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of press freedom and to commemorate journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

Overall, the international community has a crucial responsibility to protect journalists. While civil societies can act as watchdogs and pressure governments to enact and enforce protective laws, international organizations can monitor compliance and provide support. Governments must also do more to fight corruption and enforce fair laws that prioritize freedom of speech. Coordinated efforts among these entities are essential for ensuring the safety of journalists and preserving human rights globally. More communities should join in this call to action, for the integrity of our democracies, the safety of our journalists, and the preservation of human rights. The time to defend our freedoms is now.

Published on April 4, 2024

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February 7, 2023

Press freedom community: prioritize the defense of journalism that serves the public interest, to produce positive social outcomes, press freedom advocacy must shape the global information space to promote accountability and democratic debate.

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Bangladeshi journalists protest in front of press club as they demand press freedom in Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 5, 2022 Syed Mahamudur Rahman/NurPhoto via AP

For 15 years until 2021, I served as the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and in that capacity traveled the world to defend press freedom. I visited countless newsrooms and interviewed hundreds of journalists under threat. I regularly met with government representatives to make the case that respect for press freedom was not only a matter of law and principle but of national interest. I helped produce detailed reports describing the deteriorating climate and making specific recommendations. I prodded democratic governments to speak out and apply pressure when press freedom was violated. I rallied the global media to cover attacks on their colleagues. I worked closely with peer organizations in the press freedom community.

All these efforts made a difference. But they were not enough to reverse the alarming decline in press freedom worldwide.

As the losses mounted and jails filled, questions emerged. Was our strategy correct? Were we making the best argument to engage the public, governments, policymakers, and the media community itself? Were we effectively able to communicate why journalism mattered, at a time when it was being transformed by technology? Was there an inherent weakness in the human rights model for advocacy, developed and refined over decades, and based on a name-and-shame approach?

I first joined CPJ in May 1997 as the Americas program coordinator, having spent a decade as a reporter in Latin America. Precisely because CPJ was committed to defending the fundamental rights of all journalists, staff were instructed at that time not to make judgements or “to engage in media criticism.” Under international law, all journalists were entitled to precisely the same protection. The premise, linked to the broader human rights movement, was that defending the fundamental right of journalists would strengthen accountability, seed democracy, and help shape the emerging rules-based international order. Through its press freedom advocacy, CPJ could help transform societies. However, this endeavor would only have credibility if we stuck to our principles, defending all journalists regardless of their ideology, and eschewing judgments about the quality or ethics of their reporting.

There was certainly a bit of magical thinking in this formulation but at the time it seemed to be working. In my first few years at CPJ, independent journalism blossomed around the world. [1] Of course the collapse of the Soviet Union had a lot to do with this, but so did the political opening in Asia, and the end of proxy wars in Latin America.

In 2006, I became Executive Director of CPJ. While affirming the right-based approach to press freedom defense, I relaxed the strictures against media criticism and allowed the regional experts to apply greater discretion in determining their priorities. While CPJ continued to operate within a human rights framework, the regional experts often made decisions about which cases to take up based on the perceived value of the media outlet under attack, taking into account its independence from authority, and the quality of its journalism. Priorities were also determined by relationships that CPJ staff developed with journalists and editors themselves who were working under threat and would appeal directly for assistance.

This internal tension between a mandate grounded in rights with equal protection for all and a reality of selective advocacy for journalists who reflected shared values was manageable as long as press freedom conditions were improving. But the considerations shifted when press freedom began to deteriorate. The turning point, though we did not fully grasp it at the time, came years earlier following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the onset of the War on Terror. In December 2000 CPJ recorded its lowest number ever of journalists imprisoned around the world — 81. In December 2001, three months after the terror attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the number had risen to 118. From that point onward, the numbers of journalists imprisoned climbed steadily and inexorably upward.

Over the course of the next two decades, there were waves of repression linked to major shifts in the global information landscape. The 2011 Arab Spring, coming on the heels of the Color Revolutions in Eastern Europe, was another major turning point. Mass protests fueled by anger at corruption and human rights abuses toppled entrenched regimes, causing governments to recognize the threat posed by independent information and to clamp down on online speech. The most profound shifts were in Russia and China, whose governments sought not only to assert greater authority in the domestic information space but to strengthen their international propaganda networks to weaken their adversaries and shape global perceptions.

Another wave of repression was linked to the rise of elected autocrats. Many of these new leaders explicitly attacked the traditional media as part of their campaign strategies, relying on social media to rally their supporters and deliver their political message. They also urged their supporters to swarm their critics online, unleashing waves of harassment and vilification that significantly raised the cost of critical journalism. In some cases, their messages were amplified by armies of paid supporters and bots, which further corrupted and polarized the domestic information space. [2]

In the United States, where Donald Trump employed a similar strategy to gain office, independent journalists and critical media outlets became a permanent punching bag for his administration. President Trump’s anti-media rhetoric was embraced by autocratic leaders around the world who not only referred to critical journalism as “fake news” but passed new laws criminalizing its publication. [3] The number of journalists jailed around the world on “false news” charges (the category tracked by CPJ) nearly doubled from 20 to 37 over the course of the Trump administration, as the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide set new records annually, reaching 274 at the end of 2020, the last year of the Trump presidency. [4]

During this period, we also saw increased levels of violence, much of it perpetrated by criminal and militant groups who were largely impervious to traditional human-rights advocacy.  The two decade-long War on Terror — from the September 2001 attacks to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 — was also characterized by military conflict in which journalists paid an extraordinary price. All told, more than 1,000 journalists were killed during this period, including 189 in Iraq, 139 in Syria, and 53 in Afghanistan. The breakdown gives some sense of the nature of the risk. Two hundred fifty-seven journalists were killed in crossfire incidents, in some cases by the U.S. military, which deployed force recklessly in ways that undermined the safety of civilians. But well over 100 were murdered by both criminals and militant groups, who frequently targeted journalists for reprisal. [5] Kidnapping also became an occupational hazard.

The rights-based approach to press freedom advocacy was never going to be effective against non-state actors because criminals and terrorist groups do not feel bound by human rights agreements. Instead, advocacy groups sought to document and publicize the kidnapping and murders of journalists in the hope that negative media coverage would deter criminals from carrying out future crimes. The strategy was of limited efficacy, because criminal and militant groups, ranging from drug cartels in Mexico to Islamic militants in South Asia and the Middle East, were largely indifferent to the negative attention in the traditional media. In fact, in many instances, they cultivated it, publicizing brutal acts of fear as a way of sowing fear and energizing their followers.

Recognizing this reality, and following the videotaped murders of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by Islamic State militants in 2014, I started a new program at CPJ focused on journalists’ security. The logic was that the only way to stop the horrific murders was to make sure that journalists had the tools, resources, and training to stay safe. Our approach was to combine security information and resources with direct assistance for journalists under threat under the rubric of a new Emergencies Department. This new structure literally saved lives – evacuating journalists under threat – and helped create greater awareness about the importance of safety protocols, especially for international journalists working in high-risk environments.

At the same time, the emergency response work began to consume more time and resources. Because of its visibility and impact, it also attracted more funding, shifting the culture of the organization. [6]

The rise in violence and repression against journalists around the world had led to a dramatic decline in levels of press freedom as measured by leading indices prepared by Freedom House, V-Dem and Reporters Without Borders. But there are other factors as well. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated deeply negative trends grounded in what has been dubbed by political scientist Larry Diamond as the “democratic recession.” During the first phase of the pandemic, elected autocrats such as Trump, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Narendra Modi in India used lies and misinformation to undermine the public health consensus. Their strategy of “censorship through noise” or “flooding” was based less on suppressing information and more on sowing confusion and paralysis and monopolizing attention. Around the world, at least 80 countries imposed new restrictions on speech and assembly that they falsely claimed were necessary to protect public health. [7]  

While democratic populists have exploited new technologies to impose their own narratives domestically, authoritarian governments have relied on cruder measures to restrict critical expression while also seeking to shape the global information space in ways that advance their interests. The Chinese government has poured significant sums into media development, particularly in Africa where it has underwritten state broadcasters and journalism training. It has also made investments in its global propaganda network, which functions on both social media and traditional media, primarily through the English language service of the CCTV.

Russia’s efforts to shape global perceptions are more nefarious and more disruptive. Russia views the use of propaganda and disinformation as a tool of war and has used a variety of information strategies to weaken and undermine its adversaries. Putin’s view is that the West has employed information operations to spark unrest and install Western-allied governments, most notably in Ukraine. Similar efforts by Russia are simply a way of leveling the playing field.

A rights-based approach must remain at the heart of press freedom and freedom of expression advocacy, most notably legal advocacy grounded in international law. But if the goal is to produce positive social outcomes press freedom must more actively seek to shape the global information space to promote accountability and democratic debate. This means acknowledging a focus on protecting the rights of the media outlets that report on corruption, advance accountability, and provide the public with timely and accurate information with a variety of perspectives on the widest range of issues. It means infusing press freedom advocacy with a recognition that in the current environment news and information that advance accountability will not necessarily prevail in the “marketplace of ideas.”

In more than two decades of press freedom defense, I have seen governments, terrorists and criminal groups use the global information system to promulgate their own narratives, build support for war, undermine the global health consensus, damage democracy and drive polarization and fear. To counter these insidious forces, the press freedom community should prioritize the defense of journalism that serves the public interest. By doing so, those defending the rights of journalists can best fulfill their original mission: Ensuring that people around the world have access to news and information that allows them to most effectively exercise power.

Joel Simon is the founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. This essay is excerpted from A New Paradigm for Global Journalism: Press Freedom and Public Interest , published by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. During 2022, Simon was a fellow at the Tow Center and a visiting senior fellow at the Knight First Amendment Institute, also at Columbia. The author is grateful to the Ford Foundation, which provided funding.

[1] Adrian Karatnycky, Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties 1998-9 (New York: Freedom House, 1999);  Adrian Karatnycky, Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties 1999-2000 (New York: Freedom House, 2000); Adrian Karatnycky, Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties 2000-2001 (New York: Freedom House, 2001); Sarah Repucci, Media Freedom: A Downward Spiral.

[2] See for example: Julie Posetti, Nabeelah Shabbir, Diana Maynard, Kalina Bontcheva, Nermine Aboulez, The Chilling: global trends in online violence against women journalists; research discussion paper (Paris: UNESCO, 2021).  

This report documents the scope of systematic online attacks on free expression and lack of an adequate response from the tech companies.

[3] “Censorious governments are abusing “fake news” laws,” The Economist, February 13, 2021, https://www.economist.com/international/2021/02/13/censorious-governments-are-abusing-fake-news-laws .

[4] CPJ, Email with author, December 20, 2022; Arlene Getz, “Number of jailed journalists spikes to new global record,” CPJ, December 14, 2022, https://cpj.org/reports/2022/12/number-of-jailed-journalists-spikes-to-new-global-record/ . 

The upward trajectory continued after Trump left office, reaching 293 by the end of 2021 and a staggering 363 at the end of 2022. The 2022 surge in imprisonment was due in part to the crackdown in Iran.

[5] Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Email with author, December 20, 2022.  

[6] Sherry Ricchiardi, “At-risk journalists can turn to ‘Emergencies Response Team’ for help,” International Journalists’ Network, October 30, 2018, https://ijnet.org/en/committee-to-protect-journalists-launches-emergency-team .  

[7] Joel Simon and Robert Mahoney, The Infodemic, 68-72; 147-148.

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Posted by Griffith Asia Institute | Published 13 July 2020

Reflections on press freedom as a pillar of democracy

Image credit: The STAR/KJ Rosales

STEFAN ARMBRUSTER |

The news isn’t great for journalists and democracy in the Asia-Pacific region right now, with existing pressures on media freedom amplified as the COVID-19 pandemic rages and coinciding with government attempts to stifle critical voices. While parliaments are partially suspended due to the coronavirus, laws have been introduced not just to lockdown populations to prevent infection but also on the pretext of state security. The role of the media to independently inform citizens and hold governments to account is now more critical than ever before. 

The 2020 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index  is just the latest to highlight “converging crises affecting the future of journalism”, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region “that saw the greatest rise in press freedom violations”. 

In “ Holding the Line: A Report into Impunity, Journalist Safety and Working Conditions ”, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported media workers were increasingly being targeted by authorities and enmeshed in “debilitating legal maelstroms” with one objective: to “silence the media and shut down the truth”.

For the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI)’s next Perspectives Asia event, three eminent journalists from the region – Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia – will discuss the “Role of press freedom as a pillar of democracy”.  

Director of GAI Professor  Caitlin Byrne  invites you to join a forthright discussion by these brave and respected champions of press freedom in the Asia-Pacific region on the right to speak truth to power.

“A free press plays an essential role in our democratic societies – holding governments to account, highlighting corruption, injustice and abuse of power while enabling societies to be more informed and engaged in the decisions and policies that affect them. The  World Press Freedom Index 2020  reports a fairly gloomy picture of press freedom worldwide, but makes particular note of the worrying trends at play in the Asia Pacific. Increasing forms of government intimidation, censorship and oppression of journalists and media outlets in Australia and across the region threaten to undermining the very nature and resilience of our democracies. How we address this issue in the next decade will be decisive.”

The conviction of Maria Ressa, CEO of Philippines website Rappler , and former researcher Reynaldo Santos for “cyber libel” is the first of a string of charges the Philippines authorities brought against this independent news organisation that has been successfully prosecuted. Current editor-at-large Marites Vitug warns her country is “losing its grip on democracy, courtesy of an autocratic president who is using state agencies to weaken the media”. Ms Vitug joins the panel as international condemnation grows of what the European Parliament’s Media Working Group this month described as an “ orchestrated campaign of legal harassment .”

President Duterte came to power in 2016 with a blood-curdling warning : “Just because you’re a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch.” Ten years on from the Ampatuan massacre that claimed the lives of 32 media workers, the Philippines is still considered one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist.

“The Philippine media are under siege and the greatest threat to media freedom is President Duterte himself. He has broken the rule of law in the country, he doesn’t brook dissent. His rule is vengeful and punitive,” Ms Vutig comments.

“The recent passage of the Anti-Terror Act (during the pandemic) opens the floodgates for law enforcement authorities to tag perceived enemies of the state as ‘terrorists’ including journalists,” she added.

In Australia too, new national security laws are before parliament and come as a chill was sent through the media community by federal police raids targeting colleagues over public interest reportage that embarrassed the government. Search and seizure operations against the national broadcaster the ABC and the home of a major newspaper’s journalist saw charges recommended against one reporter. RSF reports Australia “used to be the regional model but is now characterised by its threats to the confidentiality of sources and to investigative journalism”. 

On the panel is Professor Peter Greste, a foreign correspondent for 25 years with Reuters, CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera and co-founder of the Alliance for Journalists Freedom . His reportage in Egypt saw him spend 400 days in jail and face court on terrorism charges in a case that was internationally condemned as a politically motivated show trial .

“In Australia, we have seen more than 80 separate pieces of national security legislation pass through the Commonwealth  many of which seriously limit press freedom,” he said.

“The War on Terror has given governments the freedom to draft loosely-framed national security legislation and related technologies that they have then used to spy on journalists and their sources.

“The effect is to expose journalists to overbearing investigations, criminalising otherwise legitimate inquiries, and silencing their work.”

In Papua New Guinea last year there was a glimmer of hope with the installation of Prime Minister James Marape for greater media freedom after what RSF describes as almost a decade of “dictatorial tendencies marked by press freedom violations, including intimidation, direct threats, censorship, prosecutions and attempts to bribe journalists”. 

However, Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) in its forthcoming Media Trends report, the “first to provide an objective basis to evaluate claims of whether the media in PNG are fair”, suggests little has changed. 

Joining the panel is Scott Waide who is a PNG investigative journalist and Lae Bureau chief at commercial broadcaster EMTV . He has repeatedly stared down attempts to stifle his reporting. As a member of the Melanesia Media Freedom Forum (MMFF) he warns of a “dangerous downward trend” in PNG and the region.

“Corruption is normalised and legalised, politicians feel that government policy should not be questioned, and critical thinking is largely absent in public debate,” he said. 

“Journalists are threatened, abused and ridiculed, editors, CEOs and board members are put under pressure, you are excluded from events or deliberately not informed. Politicians feel invincible. They want us to report the facts but not report the why and how.”

“As well as the steady exit of senior journalists, taking with them years of accumulated institutional knowledge, younger journalists leave after an average of five years, there is always a constant void that needs filling in newsrooms and (results in) the absence of critical debate driven by the media.”

Join us on July 16 (5 pm AEST) to hear more from our panel members and be part of this critical and very timely conversation. Register for the next Perspectives Asia Event .

Stefan Armbruster is SBS correspondent for Queensland and the Pacific. He is an Industry Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute

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Freedom of the Press

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 21, 2018 | Original: December 7, 2017

Freedom of the press—the right to report news or circulate opinion without censorship from the government—was considered “one of the great bulwarks of liberty,” by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Americans enjoy freedom of the press as one of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. New technologies, however, have created new challenges to media freedom.

The First Amendment , which protects freedom of the press, was adopted on December 15, 1791, as part of the Bill of Rights .

The Bill of Rights provides constitutional protection for certain individual liberties, including freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to assemble and petition the government.

Origins Of Free Press

Before the thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain, the British government attempted to censor the American media by prohibiting newspapers from publishing unfavorable information and opinions.

One of the first court cases involving freedom of the press in America took place in 1734. British governor William Cosby brought a libel case against the publisher of The New York Weekly Journal , John Peter Zenger, for publishing commentary critical of Cosby’s government. Zenger was acquitted.

Cato’s Letters

American free press ideals can be traced back to Cato’s Letters, a collection of essays criticizing the British political system that were published widely across pre-Revolutionary America.

The essays were written by Brits John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon. They were published under the pseudonym of Cato between 1720 and 1723. (Cato was a statesman and outspoken critic of corruption in the late Roman Republic.) The essays called out corruption and tyranny in the British government.

A generation later, Cato’s Letters frequently were quoted in newspapers in the American colonies as a source of revolutionary political ideas.

Virginia was the first state to formally protect the press. The 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights stated, “The freedom of the Press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic Governments.”

More than a decade later, Virginia Representative (and later president of the United States) James Madison would borrow from that declaration when drafting the First Amendment.

Media Freedom And National Security

In 1971, United States military analyst Daniel Ellsberg gave copies of classified documents to The New York Times . The documents, which would become known as the Pentagon Papers , detailed a top-secret Department of Defense study of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967.

The Pentagon Papers exposed government knowledge that the war would cost more lives than the public had been told and revealed that the presidential administrations of Harry Truman , Dwight D. Eisenhower , John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson all had misled the public about the degree of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

The government obtained a court order preventing The New York Times from publishing more excerpts from the papers, arguing that the published materials were a national security threat. A few weeks later, the U.S. government sought to block publication of the papers in the Washington Post as well, but the courts refused this time.

In the New York Times Co. v. United States , the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the newspapers, making it possible for The New York Times and Washington Post to publish the contents of the Pentagon Papers without risk of further government censorship.

Former CIA employee Edward Snowden leaked classified documents from the National Security Administration to newspapers in the U.K., United States and Germany in 2013. His leaks revealed several government surveillance programs and set off a global debate about government spying.

Some denounced Snowden as a traitor while others supported his actions, calling him a whistleblower and champion of media freedom.

Press Freedom Around The World

In 2017, a U.S.-based nonprofit, Freedom House, found that just 13 percent of the world’s population enjoys a free press—a media environment where political news coverage is robust and uncensored, and the safety of journalists is guaranteed.

The world’s 10 worst-rated countries and territories include: Azerbaijan, Crimea, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea , Syria , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The United States ranked 37 of 199 countries and territories for press freedom in 2017. Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden were the top ranking countries.

The Origins of Freedom of Speech and Press; Maryland Law Review . Freedom of the Press 2017; Freedom House .

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World Press Freedom Day

Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.

Between May 2 and 4, Chile and UNESCO will host the 31st World Press Freedom Day Conference. 

World Press Freedom Day will be dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. 

Watch the Conference live

From 09:00 to 19:00 (Santiago time)

World Press Freedom Day 2024

A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis 2-4 May 2024 Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, Santigo, Chile

This Story must be Told – UNESCO campaign for #WorldPressFreedomDay

All stories deserve to be told. But this one may be particularly decisive. 

The climate and biodiversity crisis are not only affecting the environment and ecosystems but also the lives of billions of people around the world. Their stories of upheaval and loss deserve to be known and shared. They are not always pretty to watch. They can even be disturbing. But it's only by knowing that action is possible. Exposing the crisis is the first step to solving it.

That's why the role of journalists is crucial. It is through their work, their courage and their perseverance that we can know what is happening across the planet.  They work on the frontlines of our collective fight for the health of our planet and our struggle for livable lives. On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s recognize and celebrate their work in helping us shape a better future.

Press cartoons for the Planet

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO and Cartooning for Peace launch a series of cartoons in support to a Press for the Planet!  

Academic conference

If you are an academic interested in topics such as freedom of expression and safety of journalists, register to the Global Conference to attend the academic conference, which will take place on 4 May 2024.

Commemorations around the world

World Press Freedom Day is taking place on a global scale. Local, national and regional celebrations are organized by government and civil society organizations, including media, journalists' associations, universities, among others. If you are planning to organize an event in your country, please fill out the form below so it can be featured in UNESCO's list of commemorations around the world.

Dis and misinformation around the climate crisis

In the context of the world's triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodi-versity loss, and air pollution) dis- and misinformation campaigns challenge knowledge and scientific research methods. Attacks on the validity of science pose a serious threat to pluralistic and informed public debate. Indeed, misleading and false information about climate change can, in some cases, foster doubt and incredulity about environmental issues, their impact and urgency, and undermine international efforts to address them. 

Dis- and misinformation about environmental issues can lead to a lack of public and political support for climate action, effective policies, and the protection of vulnerable communities affected by climate change, as well as of women and girls, as climate change tends to exacerbate existing inequalities.

To address this flood of disinformation in the digital ecosystem, UNESCO launched in November 2023 the Guidelines for the governance of digital platforms. If implemented in their entirety, the Guidelines will empower all relevant stakeholders to put in place a governance system that can foster freedom of expression while tackling the negative externalities. 

Publications

Get Involved

#WorldPressFreedomDay #PressFreedom 

3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a story.

History of the International Day

Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a  Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference  in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark  Windhoek Declaration .

What UNESCO does to #ProtectJournalists

The Santiago Declaration

The historic Santiago Declaration was adopted during the “Seminar on the Development of Media and Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean” (May 6, 1994). It marked a new phase in promoting the right to freedom of expression and of the press, as well as the development and recognition of community media, independence, and pluralism of the media in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Windhoek Declaration

The Windhoek Declaration is considered a benchmark for ensuring press freedom around the world. It all began at a seminar in Windhoek, Namibia in 1991. 

Previous editions

2023 - 2022  -  2021  -  2020  -  2019  -  2018  -  2017  -  2016  -  2015  -  2014  -  Access the archive

Essay on Freedom of the Press for Students and Children

500 words essay on freedom of the press.

Freedom of the press is the most important wheel of democracy. Without a free press, a democracy cannot exist. In fact, the press is a great medium that conveys the truth to people. However, it cannot function fully if the press is not free.

People must have heard the saying about the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance. Thus, it is the media’s responsibility to remain vigil for people’s safety. Moreover, the freedom of people is monitored by the media. The press watches those in power to ensure they do not misuse it. In order to do this, freedom of the press is required.

Importance of Freedom of the Press

The press has been given the responsibility of checking and balancing the administration and the government. Whenever there is a social evil lurking or corruption and oppression happens, the press is the first one to raise a voice.

Moreover, we trust the press to collect verify and disseminate the facts and figures which influence people’s decisions. If the press won’t have the liberty to do all this, the people will be in the dark.

Therefore, we see how if even any one of these liberties is take away from the press, the voiceless will lose their voice. Worse yet, if the press will be denied to do their job, the ones in power will run the country as per their will. This will result in uninformed citizens who will thus become powerless.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Moreover, we see how censorship of the press is nothing less than a dictatorship. When the government imposes censorship on the press, it obviously means they are trying to hide something. A person only hides lies and not the truth. Thus, this way the citizens will be manipulated into thinking there is nothing wrong with the government. Subsequently, when there remains no agency to report the truth, the government will gain absolute power.

In short, freedom of the press is important for the smooth functioning of democracy. It is important for people to be socially aware of happenings in the world. One must have the power to criticize the government; it will keep the administration on their toes to do better for the country.

Responsibility a Free Press

As we can conclude from the earlier statements, the press has a huge responsibility on their shoulders. They need to be vigilant and honest. Media has a powerful role to play in any form of government, whether democratic or totalitarian. The information they distribute helps in shaping the views of the public.

When you have such a power to influence the views of a whole public, then you must be even more responsible. In fact, the media is sometimes more powerful than the government. They have people’s trust and support. However, such a power given to any individual or agency is quite dangerous.

In other words, any media without restraints can be hazardous. As they have the power to showcase anything, they may report anything and twist the facts as per their agendas. They have the power to cause outrage amongst the people. A free press can easily manipulate the public’s opinion. This is why we need responsible journalism to refrain the media from reporting false facts which may harm the harmony and peace of a country.

FAQs on Freedom of the Press

Q.1 Why is freedom of the press important?

A.1 Freedom of the press is important for keeping people informed. A free press monitors the administration and forces them to work for the betterment of the country.

Q.2 What is the responsibility of a free press?

A.2 A free press has a huge responsibility of reporting the truth and shaping people’s opinions. Responsible journalism must be practiced to stop people from spreading hate and maintaining the harmony of a country.

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  As the [COVID-19] pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a second pandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracy theories. The press provides the antidote: verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis. UN Secretary-General António Guterres  

A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis

In 2024, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

Awareness of all aspects of the global environmental crisis and its consequences is essential to build democratic societies. Journalistic work is indispensable for this purpose.

Journalists encounter significant challenges in seeking and disseminating information on contemporary issues, such as supply-chains problems, climate migration, extractive industries, illegal mining, pollution, poaching, animal trafficking, deforestation, or climate change. Ensuring the visibility of these issues is crucial for promoting peace and democratic values worldwide.

In the context of the world’s triple planetary crisis —climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution— dis-/misinformation campaigns challenge knowledge and scientific research methods. Attacks on the validity of science pose a serious threat to pluralistic and informed public debate. Indeed, misleading and false information about climate change can, in some cases, undermine international efforts to address them.

Dis-/misinformation about environmental issues can lead to a lack of public and political support for climate action, effective policies, and the protection of vulnerable communities affected by climate change, as well as of women and girls, as climate change tends to exacerbate existing inequalities.

To achieve sustainable development, it is necessary for journalists to report accurately, timely, and comprehensively on environmental issues and their consequences, as well as on possible solutions.

This requires a comprehensive strategy that includes:

• Preventing and protecting against crimes committed against journalists.   
• Ensuring the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of scientific research, and access to key sources of information, in addition to combating dis-/misinformation through journalism.   
• Promoting the plurality, diversity, and viability of media, especially regional, local, indigenous, and/or community-based media.   
• Ensuring that the governance of digital platforms foster the transparency of technology companies, their accountability, due diligence, user empowerment, and content moderation and curation based on international human rights’ standards, as indicated in UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.
• Promoting Media and Information Literacy programs to empower users with skills to engage and think critically in the digital environment.

Read the concept note

World Press Freedom Day: Pioneering Foreign Correspondent Edith Lederer on Why Journalism Matters

Origins and purpose of the day.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

After 30 years, the historic connection made between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good remains as relevant as it was at the time of its signing. Special commemorations of the 30th anniversary are planned to take place during World Press Freedom Day International Conference.

May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to:

• celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
• assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
• defend the media from attacks on their independence;
• and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

31st World Press Freedom Day Conference

The 31 st edition of World Press Freedom Day will highlight the significant role played by the press, journalism, access, and dissemination of information to ensure and secure a sustainable future that respects the rights of individuals and their diversity of voices, as well as gender equality.

2 - 4 May 2024

Gabriela mistral cultural center, santiago, chile.

Side Events

Celebrations around the world

UNESCO and partners are organizing celebrations around the world.  Register your event  in order to feature it in UNESCO's list of celebrations .

Safety of Journalists

Find out what the United Nations is doing on the safety of journalists .

Fostering Freedom of Expression

As the United Nations agency with a specific mandate to promote “the free flow of ideas by word and image”, UNESCO works to foster free, independent and pluralistic media in print, broadcast and online. Media development in this mode enhances freedom of expression, and it contributes to peace, sustainability, poverty eradication and human rights

UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize

Created in 1997, the annual Prize honours a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when achieved in the face of danger. The Prize is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza , a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia in1986. 

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

Press Freedom at a Crossroads: the Supreme Court Case that Shaped American Journalism

This essay about the Pentagon Papers case explores its pivotal role in reshaping American journalism and reinforcing the principles of press freedom. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, it into how Daniel Ellsberg’s whistleblowing sparked a legal battle that ultimately affirmed the rights of journalists to hold power accountable. The essay highlights the enduring significance of the Supreme Court’s ruling in 1971, emphasizing the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding press freedom in the digital age.

How it works

In the annals of American legal history, few cases have stirred the conscience of the nation and reshaped the landscape of journalism quite like the saga of New York Times Co. v. United States. This watershed moment, often referred to as the Pentagon Papers case, thrust the delicate balance between government secrecy and press freedom into the harsh glare of public scrutiny, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of American democracy.

Cast your mind back to the tumultuous year of 1971, a time when the United States was gripped by the quagmire of the Vietnam War.

Against this backdrop of political unrest and social upheaval, a former military analyst named Daniel Ellsberg made a decision that would send shockwaves through the corridors of power. Disillusioned by the government’s opaque handling of the war, Ellsberg clandestinely copied a cache of classified documents known as the Pentagon Papers, exposing a decades-long trail of deception and hubris in America’s foreign policy.

Armed with this trove of incendiary revelations, Ellsberg sought out journalists at The New York Times and The Washington Post, believing that the American public deserved to know the truth about their government’s actions. What followed was a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between the press and the Nixon administration, with the fate of press freedom hanging precariously in the balance.

In a bold act of defiance, both newspapers began publishing excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, thrusting themselves into the eye of a legal storm. The Nixon administration, invoking the specter of national security, swiftly sought to halt further publication of the classified material, obtaining a temporary restraining order against The New York Times and igniting a fierce legal battle that would ultimately reach the highest court in the land.

On that fateful day in June 1971, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, with a slim majority siding with the press in a historic 6-3 decision. Writing for the majority, Justice Hugo Black articulated a ringing endorsement of press freedom, declaring that “the press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” In doing so, the Court reaffirmed the principle that prior restraint, the government’s attempt to censor speech before publication, was anathema to the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of the press.

The implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling were profound and far-reaching. It not only vindicated the rights of journalists to hold power to account but also underscored the indispensable role of a free press in a healthy democracy. The Pentagon Papers case became a rallying cry for journalists across the nation, emboldening them to pursue truth and transparency in the face of adversity.

Yet, the legacy of this seminal case is not without its complexities and contradictions. While it represented a triumph for press freedom, it also exposed the fault lines between national security imperatives and the public’s right to know. In the decades since, successive administrations have grappled with the tension between transparency and secrecy, often resorting to legal maneuvering and executive privilege to shield sensitive information from public scrutiny.

Moreover, the advent of the digital age has ushered in a new era of media proliferation and fragmentation, posing fresh challenges to the traditional gatekeepers of news and information. In an age of viral misinformation and echo chambers, the role of the press as a bulwark against falsehoods has never been more vital, even as it faces unprecedented scrutiny and skepticism.

As we stand at this crossroads of press freedom, it behooves us to reflect on the lessons of history and reaffirm our commitment to the principles that underpin our democracy. The Pentagon Papers case serves as a reminder that the freedom of the press is not a privilege to be taken for granted but a hard-won right to be fiercely defended. It calls on us to remain vigilant in the face of threats to press freedom, whether from government overreach, corporate consolidation, or technological disruption.

In the words of Justice Black, “The press’s duty to inform the public is one of the highest responsibilities bestowed upon it by the Constitution.” Let us heed that duty with unwavering resolve, lest we risk squandering the precious legacy bequeathed to us by those who fought and bled for the right to speak truth to power.

Cite this page

Press Freedom at a Crossroads: The Supreme Court Case That Shaped American Journalism. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/press-freedom-at-a-crossroads-the-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-american-journalism/

"Press Freedom at a Crossroads: The Supreme Court Case That Shaped American Journalism." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/press-freedom-at-a-crossroads-the-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-american-journalism/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Press Freedom at a Crossroads: The Supreme Court Case That Shaped American Journalism . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/press-freedom-at-a-crossroads-the-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-american-journalism/ [Accessed: 17 May. 2024]

"Press Freedom at a Crossroads: The Supreme Court Case That Shaped American Journalism." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 17, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/press-freedom-at-a-crossroads-the-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-american-journalism/

"Press Freedom at a Crossroads: The Supreme Court Case That Shaped American Journalism," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/press-freedom-at-a-crossroads-the-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-american-journalism/. [Accessed: 17-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Press Freedom at a Crossroads: The Supreme Court Case That Shaped American Journalism . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/press-freedom-at-a-crossroads-the-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-american-journalism/ [Accessed: 17-May-2024]

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The state of global press freedom in 10 numbers

This past Friday, May 3, was World Press Freedom Day. The date marks the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration , a 1991 statement, named for the capital of Namibia, that asserted the need for “an independent and pluralistic African press.” As the UN puts it , the annual event is “a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom,” but also “a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics,” as well as a chance to “pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”

Each year, World Press Freedom Day brings with it a welter of statistics on the state of press freedom around the world—no few of them offered up by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) alone, in its influential World Press Freedom Index . (The index ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide from best to worst on press freedom, according to five indicators spanning political, economic, legislative, social, and security considerations.) Journalists, of course, do not live or work by statistics alone—and, as I’ve written before in this newsletter , press-freedom statistics are often contested, sometimes bitterly so, with the picture they paint depending, among other factors, on who we consider to be a journalist, what aspects of their experience we measure, and what aspects are even measurable in the first place.

Still, this picture can be revealing—and on this year’s World Press Freedom Day, it showed a global crisis for the press that, on numerous metrics, is only getting worse. Below are ten figures from this year’s World Press Freedom Day, what they show, and, sometimes, what they don’t. 

At least 1… journalist was killed on World Press Freedom Day. According to Voice of America , Muhammad Siddique Mengal, the president of a local press club, was traveling in a car in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province when an assailant on a motorcycle attached a magnetic bomb to the vehicle, which blew up seconds later. The perpetrator has not been identified, but VOA notes that Balochistan “has lately experienced almost daily attacks mostly claimed by ethnic Baluch insurgents” and that the region is home to other militant groups; Pakistan’s security services have also been accused of attacking critics there. The killing came one day after the Committee to Protect Journalists raised the alarm about a series of recent death threats targeting Hamid Mir, a prominent Pakistani TV journalist (who has been attacked before, as I wrote in 2022 ). On Friday, Mir described Mengal’s killing as “a message to all independent journalists in Pakistan.”

3… journalists were called out by name in a statement that President Joe Biden issued to mark World Press Freedom Day : Austin Tice, an American journalist who was abducted in Syria in 2012 ; Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter jailed in Russia since last year ; and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with the US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who is also in jail in Russia. (She is a dual US-Russian citizen.) Biden has repeatedly spoken the names of Tice and Gershkovich. By my count, this was only the third time that he has publicly mentioned Kurmasheva’s name—and the second time in less than a week, after he said, during remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner , that Russian president Vladimir Putin should “release Evan and Alsu immediately.” This recent uptick is notable: as I reported recently , critics have argued that Biden’s administration could be doing more to highlight Kurmasheva’s case. Her husband told me that he would like to hear Biden say her name more often.

10… journalists worldwide are worthy of particularly urgent attention , according to the One Free Press Coalition, a collective of international news organizations that aims to highlight the cases of threatened media workers. The coalition launched its “10 Most Urgent” list in 2019 and updated it monthly; it apparently stopped doing so in 2022, but has just relaunched the list as an annual project pegged to World Press Freedom Day, according to its website. Gershkovich and Kurmasheva lead the latest list, which also draws attention to the plight of jailed reporters in Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Rwanda, and Myanmar. Also on the list are three journalists I’ve written about in this newsletter: José Rubén Zamora and Gustavo Gorriti —veteran muckrakers in Guatemala and Peru, respectively—as well as Shireen Abu Akleh , a Palestinian American reporter for Al Jazeera who was shot and killed while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank in 2022. 

26… journalists’ deaths “in the line of work” have been condemned by UNESCO since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and Israel responded by bombarding Gaza. UNESCO cited this figure in a press release announcing that “Palestinian journalists covering Gaza” would collectively receive this year’s World Press Freedom Prize, an award given in honor of Guillermo Cano, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated outside his newspaper’s offices in 1986. In the same release, UNESCO attributed its Gaza figure to information from partner NGOs and said that it “is reviewing dozens of other cases.” Indeed, its figure is significantly lower than similar data maintained by various other groups; CPJ’s tally of media workers killed in the conflict currently stands at 97 , while the International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) tally stands at 109 and regional groups peg the total higher still. As I wrote recently , how this figure is calculated has been a source of controversy. As of last month, RSF’s tally stood at 105 , but the group had to that point only determined that 22 of those journalists were killed “in the course of their work”—a distinction that a Palestinian press group has blasted as tantamount to whitewashing Israeli crimes .

42… percent is the rate of increase in attacks on journalists and news outlets covering the environment in the past five years (compared with the prior five-year period) according to a new report produced by UNESCO . (The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day was “journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.”) Earlier this year, UNESCO and the IFJ surveyed 905 environmental journalists in 129 countries, over 70 percent of whom said they had “suffered attacks, threats, or pressure” linked to their work. The report notes that such attacks have taken place in every region of the world, including Europe, where police have arrested reporters covering climate protests in the UK, France, Spain, Poland, and Sweden.

More than 50… percent of the world’s population now lives in countries colored red in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index —the group’s lowest classification, reflecting poor scores on its indicators and a “very serious” situation for press freedom. Only 36 countries out of 180 worldwide are in RSF’s red zone, but this figure is an increase on 31 last year and includes half of the world’s most populous countries—China, Russia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan—all of which (bar China) held or are holding elections this year. According to RSF, less than 8 percent of the world’s population now lives in places with “good” or “satisfactory” press freedom.

55… is the new ranking of the US on RSF’s index , a 10-place drop from last year and a lower ebb than it recorded at any point when Donald Trump was president. The US has not placed higher than 40th since 2013, and comparing placements on the index from year to year is not an exact science anyway. But the recent drop—which puts the US below various countries with notably hostile recent press-freedom climates, including Slovakia and Poland —nonetheless reflects what RSF describes as “major structural barriers to press freedom,” including economic struggles and declining public trust. Not that the US was the biggest dropper in the index this year: Slovakia, for example, is down 12 places, Niger 19, Argentina 26, and Burkina Faso 28. All four countries have seen recent changes of government, be they the result of elections or coups.

177… is the new ranking on the index of North Korea, that country’s highest placement in at least a decade—but still the world’s fourth worst country for press freedom overall. For five of the past ten years, including the past two, North Korea—which has a notoriously totalitarian approach toward independent journalism (and a more favorable one toward propagandistic cinema, as I wrote last year )—has been rock bottom of the index, with Eritrea occupying that rank most of the rest of the time. Eritrea is back at the bottom this year. But Syria has now also fallen below North Korea—as has Afghanistan, where the repression of journalists has “steadily intensified” since the Taliban seized power in 2021, as RSF puts it. Prior to that, the country had hovered around the 120 mark for the better part of a decade.

310… BBC World Service journalists are now working in exile, according to a figure that the broadcaster released to mark World Press Freedom Day. The figure has nearly doubled since 2020, a reflection of events since then in Afghanistan and Russia, as well as in Ethiopia and Myanmar. The BBC pulled most of its staff out of Afghanistan after the Taliban took power, and moved its Moscow team to neighboring Latvia after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and simultaneously intensified its crackdown on the press. (Last month, Russian officials labeled a BBC reporter as a “foreign agent,” a designation intended to confer stigma and onerous bureaucratic requirements that is also at issue in Kurmasheva’s case .) Some BBC journalists who were already working from exile, meanwhile, have recently been on the receiving end of an uptick in threats—not least journalists working for BBC Persian, 10 of whom learned recently that they had secretly been convicted in absentia in their home country. Exiled Iranian journalists’ families have also been harassed, as I wrote recently .

2.5 billion… is the amount (in US dollars) that tax authorities in Turkey fined a media company that had been critical of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—ostensibly on fraud charges, but actually, many critics suspected, as a political punishment. This happened in 2009, but on World Press Freedom Day last week, Jan-Werner Müller, a professor at Princeton, returned to the story to highlight the anti-press tactics to which repressive leaders (including Erdoğan, who was prime minister then and is now the president) have resorted in order to maintain at least a veneer of plausible deniability. “As another World Press Freedom Day arrives, news media organizations will dutifully display lists of journalists imprisoned or killed around the world,” Müller wrote in Foreign Policy . “It is important to acknowledge these victims. But it’s also time to recognize that analysts and policymakers need a new framework to understand how a new generation of authoritarian leaders disables critical coverage without putting journalists in jail or physically harming them.”

Other notable stories:

• The winners of this year’s Pulitzer Prizes were announced yesterday . They included ProPublica , for its coverage of Supreme Court justices’ ties to billionaires, and the New York Times , for its coverage of October 7 and its aftermath, as well as smaller outlets including the Invisible Institute , a nonprofit newsroom in Chicago that won in both the audio and local reporting categories, in partnership with USG Audio and City Bureau, respectively. (Disclosure: I served as a juror this year in the criticism category; congratulations to the winner, Justin Chang , for his writing about film for the LA Times .) The Pulitzer Board also issued a citation honoring “the courageous work of journalists and media workers covering the war in Gaza.” Last week, the board put out a statement praising the work of student journalists covering Gaza-related protests on US campuses. 
• Last week, Republicans in Congress summoned Katherine Maher , the new CEO of NPR, to testify at a hearing, scheduled for tomorrow, about supposed political bias at the broadcaster. (The request came after a senior NPR editor, who has since resigned, alleged left-wing dogma on the part of his colleagues in an essay for the Free Press ; conservative activists subsequently targeted Maher by resurfacing tweets in which she espoused liberal positions before entering the media industry.) According to NPR’s David Folkenflik , Maher has since agreed to testify—but not tomorrow, since the hearing clashes with a long-scheduled meeting of the broadcaster’s board that will be Maher’s first since taking over as CEO. She will offer written testimony in her absence.
• As we noted in yesterday’s newsletter , unionized staffers at titles owned by Condé Nast were poised to picket last night’s Met Gala in protest of stalled contract negotiations with management—but after we published, the union and bosses came to a “tentative agreement” and the picket was averted, leaving journalists at the gala to focus on fashion (and Rita Ora’s accurate claim that there are no surviving humans from the second century BC). The Condé Nast union said that it has won wage increases, higher starting salaries, “just cause” in firing decisions, expanded family and bereavement leave, and benefits for laid-off colleagues, among other victories.
• Politico ’s Jack Shafer makes the case that American journalism has lost its swagger . “At one time, big city newspaper editors typified by the Washington Post ’s Ben Bradlee strode their properties like colossuses, barking orders and winning deference from all corners. Today’s newspaper editor comes clothed in the drab and accommodating aura of a bureaucrat, often indistinguishable from the publishers for whom they work,” Shafer argues. These editors then “impose that style on their journalists, many of whom do their work in a defensive crouch instead of the traditional offensive stance.”
• And for her newsletter, The Media Mix , Claire Atkinson spoke with Elvire Camus —the editor in chief of the English edition of Le Monde , which launched two years ago—to find out how the initiative is going. “We feel that our reporting is good enough to exist globally and we feel that it’s important to add a different perspective than the dominant American perspective on global news, because the global language is English,” Camus said. “And as we all know, two people reporting on the same story don’t write the same story.”

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How to Create an Engaging Photo Essay (with Examples)

Photo essays tell a story in pictures. They're a great way to improve at photography and story-telling skills at once. Learn how to do create a great one.

Learn | Photography Guides | By Ana Mireles

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Photography is a medium used to tell stories – sometimes they are told in one picture, sometimes you need a whole series. Those series can be photo essays.

If you’ve never done a photo essay before, or you’re simply struggling to find your next project, this article will be of help. I’ll be showing you what a photo essay is and how to go about doing one.

You’ll also find plenty of photo essay ideas and some famous photo essay examples from recent times that will serve you as inspiration.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s jump right in!

Table of Contents

What is a Photo Essay?

A photo essay is a series of images that share an overarching theme as well as a visual and technical coherence to tell a story. Some people refer to a photo essay as a photo series or a photo story – this often happens in photography competitions.

Photographic history is full of famous photo essays. Think about The Great Depression by Dorothea Lange, Like Brother Like Sister by Wolfgang Tillmans, Gandhi’s funeral by Henri Cartier Bresson, amongst others.

What are the types of photo essay?

Despite popular belief, the type of photo essay doesn’t depend on the type of photography that you do – in other words, journalism, documentary, fine art, or any other photographic genre is not a type of photo essay.

Instead, there are two main types of photo essays: narrative and thematic .

As you have probably already guessed, the thematic one presents images pulled together by a topic – for example, global warming. The images can be about animals and nature as well as natural disasters devastating cities. They can happen all over the world or in the same location, and they can be captured in different moments in time – there’s a lot of flexibility.

A narrative photo essa y, on the other hand, tells the story of a character (human or not), portraying a place or an event. For example, a narrative photo essay on coffee would document the process from the planting and harvesting – to the roasting and grinding until it reaches your morning cup.

What are some of the key elements of a photo essay?

• Tell a unique story – A unique story doesn’t mean that you have to photograph something that nobody has done before – that would be almost impossible! It means that you should consider what you’re bringing to the table on a particular topic.
• Put yourself into the work – One of the best ways to make a compelling photo essay is by adding your point of view, which can only be done with your life experiences and the way you see the world.
• Add depth to the concept – The best photo essays are the ones that go past the obvious and dig deeper in the story, going behind the scenes, or examining a day in the life of the subject matter – that’s what pulls in the spectator.
• Nail the technique – Even if the concept and the story are the most important part of a photo essay, it won’t have the same success if it’s poorly executed.
• Build a structure – A photo essay is about telling a thought-provoking story – so, think about it in a narrative way. Which images are going to introduce the topic? Which ones represent a climax? How is it going to end – how do you want the viewer to feel after seeing your photo series?
• Make strong choices – If you really want to convey an emotion and a unique point of view, you’re going to need to make some hard decisions. Which light are you using? Which lens? How many images will there be in the series? etc., and most importantly for a great photo essay is the why behind those choices.

9 Tips for Creating a Photo Essay

Credit: Laura James

1. Choose something you know

To make a good photo essay, you don’t need to travel to an exotic location or document a civil war – I mean, it’s great if you can, but you can start close to home.

Depending on the type of photography you do and the topic you’re looking for in your photographic essay, you can photograph a local event or visit an abandoned building outside your town.

It will be much easier for you to find a unique perspective and tell a better story if you’re already familiar with the subject. Also, consider that you might have to return a few times to the same location to get all the photos you need.

2. Follow your passion

Most photo essays take dedication and passion. If you choose a subject that might be easy, but you’re not really into it – the results won’t be as exciting. Taking photos will always be easier and more fun if you’re covering something you’re passionate about.

3. Take your time

A great photo essay is not done in a few hours. You need to put in the time to research it, conceptualizing it, editing, etc. That’s why I previously recommended following your passion because it takes a lot of dedication, and if you’re not passionate about it – it’s difficult to push through.

4. Write a summary or statement

Photo essays are always accompanied by some text. You can do this in the form of an introduction, write captions for each photo or write it as a conclusion. That’s up to you and how you want to present the work.

5. Learn from the masters

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Making a photographic essay takes a lot of practice and knowledge. A great way to become a better photographer and improve your storytelling skills is by studying the work of others. You can go to art shows, review books and magazines and look at the winners in photo contests – most of the time, there’s a category for photo series.

6. Get a wide variety of photos

Think about a story – a literary one. It usually tells you where the story is happening, who is the main character, and it gives you a few details to make you engage with it, right?

The same thing happens with a visual story in a photo essay – you can do some wide-angle shots to establish the scenes and some close-ups to show the details. Make a shot list to ensure you cover all the different angles.

Some of your pictures should guide the viewer in, while others are more climatic and regard the experience they are taking out of your photos.

7. Follow a consistent look

Both in style and aesthetics, all the images in your series need to be coherent. You can achieve this in different ways, from the choice of lighting, the mood, the post-processing, etc.

8. Be self-critical

Once you have all the photos, make sure you edit them with a good dose of self-criticism. Not all the pictures that you took belong in the photo essay. Choose only the best ones and make sure they tell the full story.

9. Ask for constructive feedback

Often, when we’re working on a photo essay project for a long time, everything makes perfect sense in our heads. However, someone outside the project might not be getting the idea. It’s important that you get honest and constructive criticism to improve your photography.

How to Create a Photo Essay in 5 Steps

Credit: Quang Nguyen Vinh

1. Choose your topic

This is the first step that you need to take to decide if your photo essay is going to be narrative or thematic. Then, choose what is it going to be about?

Ideally, it should be something that you’re interested in, that you have something to say about it, and it can connect with other people.

2. Research your topic

To tell a good story about something, you need to be familiar with that something. This is especially true when you want to go deeper and make a compelling photo essay. Day in the life photo essays are a popular choice, since often, these can be performed with friends and family, whom you already should know well.

3. Plan your photoshoot

Depending on what you’re photographing, this step can be very different from one project to the next. For a fine art project, you might need to find a location, props, models, a shot list, etc., while a documentary photo essay is about planning the best time to do the photos, what gear to bring with you, finding a local guide, etc.

Every photo essay will need different planning, so before taking pictures, put in the required time to get things right.

4. Experiment

It’s one thing to plan your photo shoot and having a shot list that you have to get, or else the photo essay won’t be complete. It’s another thing to miss out on some amazing photo opportunities that you couldn’t foresee.

So, be prepared but also stay open-minded and experiment with different settings, different perspectives, etc.

5. Make a final selection

Editing your work can be one of the hardest parts of doing a photo essay. Sometimes we can be overly critical, and others, we get attached to bad photos because we put a lot of effort into them or we had a great time doing them.

Try to be as objective as possible, don’t be afraid to ask for opinions and make various revisions before settling down on a final cut.

7 Photo Essay Topics, Ideas & Examples

Credit: Michelle Leman

• Architectural photo essay

Using architecture as your main subject, there are tons of photo essay ideas that you can do. For some inspiration, you can check out the work of Francisco Marin – who was trained as an architect and then turned to photography to “explore a different way to perceive things”.

You can also lookup Luisa Lambri. Amongst her series, you’ll find many photo essay examples in which architecture is the subject she uses to explore the relationship between photography and space.

• Process and transformation photo essay

This is one of the best photo essay topics for beginners because the story tells itself. Pick something that has a beginning and an end, for example, pregnancy, the metamorphosis of a butterfly, the life-cycle of a plant, etc.

Keep in mind that these topics are linear and give you an easy way into the narrative flow – however, it might be difficult to find an interesting perspective and a unique point of view.

• A day in the life of ‘X’ photo essay

There are tons of interesting photo essay ideas in this category – you can follow around a celebrity, a worker, your child, etc. You don’t even have to do it about a human subject – think about doing a photo essay about a day in the life of a racing horse, for example – find something that’s interesting for you.

• Time passing by photo essay

It can be a natural site or a landmark photo essay – whatever is close to you will work best as you’ll need to come back multiple times to capture time passing by. For example, how this place changes throughout the seasons or maybe even over the years.

A fun option if you live with family is to document a birthday party each year, seeing how the subject changes over time. This can be combined with a transformation essay or sorts, documenting the changes in interpersonal relationships over time.

• Travel photo essay

Do you want to make the jump from tourist snapshots into a travel photo essay? Research the place you’re going to be travelling to. Then, choose a topic.

If you’re having trouble with how to do this, check out any travel magazine – National Geographic, for example. They won’t do a generic article about Texas – they do an article about the beach life on the Texas Gulf Coast and another one about the diverse flavors of Texas.

The more specific you get, the deeper you can go with the story.

• Socio-political issues photo essay

This is one of the most popular photo essay examples – it falls under the category of photojournalism or documental photography. They are usually thematic, although it’s also possible to do a narrative one.

Depending on your topic of interest, you can choose topics that involve nature – for example, document the effects of global warming. Another idea is to photograph protests or make an education photo essay.

It doesn’t have to be a big global issue; you can choose something specific to your community – are there too many stray dogs? Make a photo essay about a local animal shelter. The topics are endless.

• Behind the scenes photo essay

A behind-the-scenes always make for a good photo story – people are curious to know what happens and how everything comes together before a show.

Depending on your own interests, this can be a photo essay about a fashion show, a theatre play, a concert, and so on. You’ll probably need to get some permissions, though, not only to shoot but also to showcase or publish those images.

4 Best Photo Essays in Recent times

Now that you know all the techniques about it, it might be helpful to look at some photo essay examples to see how you can put the concept into practice. Here are some famous photo essays from recent times to give you some inspiration.

Habibi by Antonio Faccilongo

This photo essay wan the World Press Photo Story of the Year in 2021. Faccilongo explores a very big conflict from a very specific and intimate point of view – how the Israeli-Palestinian war affects the families.

He chose to use a square format because it allows him to give order to things and eliminate unnecessary elements in his pictures.

With this long-term photo essay, he wanted to highlight the sense of absence and melancholy women and families feel towards their husbands away at war.

The project then became a book edited by Sarah Leen and the graphics of Ramon Pez.

Picture This: New Orleans by Mary Ellen Mark

The last assignment before her passing, Mary Ellen Mark travelled to New Orleans to register the city after a decade after Hurricane Katrina.

The images of the project “bring to life the rebirth and resilience of the people at the heart of this tale”, – says CNNMoney, commissioner of the work.

Each survivor of the hurricane has a story, and Mary Ellen Mark was there to record it. Some of them have heartbreaking stories about everything they had to leave behind.

Others have a story of hope – like Sam and Ben, two eight-year-olds born from frozen embryos kept in a hospital that lost power supply during the hurricane, yet they managed to survive.

Selfie by Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer whose work is mainly done through self-portraits. With them, she explores the concept of identity, gender stereotypes, as well as visual and cultural codes.

One of her latest photo essays was a collaboration with W Magazine entitled Selfie. In it, the author explores the concept of planned candid photos (‘plandid’).

The work was made for Instagram, as the platform is well known for the conflict between the ‘real self’ and the one people present online. Sherman started using Facetune, Perfect365 and YouCam to alter her appearance on selfies – in Photoshop, you can modify everything, but these apps were designed specifically to “make things prettier”- she says, and that’s what she wants to explore in this photo essay.

Tokyo Compression by Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf has an interest in the broad-gauge topic Life in Cities. From there, many photo essays have been derived – amongst them – Tokyo Compression .

He was horrified by the way people in Tokyo are forced to move to the suburbs because of the high prices of the city. Therefore, they are required to make long commutes facing 1,5 hours of train to start their 8+ hour workday followed by another 1,5 hours to get back home.

To portray this way of life, he photographed the people inside the train pressed against the windows looking exhausted, angry or simply absent due to this way of life.

You can visit his website to see other photo essays that revolve around the topic of life in megacities.

Final Words

It’s not easy to make photo essays, so don’t expect to be great at it right from your first project.

Start off small by choosing a specific subject that’s interesting to you –  that will come from an honest place, and it will be a great practice for some bigger projects along the line.

Whether you like to shoot still life or you’re a travel photographer, I hope these photo essay tips and photo essay examples can help you get started and grow in your photography.

Let us know which topics you are working on right now – we’ll love to hear from you!

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Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

Penelope G. To Ana Mireles Such a well written and helpful article for an writer who wants to inclue photo essay in her memoir. Thank you. I will get to work on this new skill. Penelope G.

Herman Krieger Photo essays in black and white

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• School Education /

Press Freedom Essay in 500+ Words in English for Students

• Updated on  
• Apr 17, 2024

Press freedom means that media, both digital and print, are free from any state control. In today’s modern world, press freedom is very important to safeguard democracy and encourage an accountable and transparent government. Different countries have their own laws regarding press freedom. Countries like India, the USA, South Korea, and Japan have freedom of expression and speech. It means people and organisations are free to express their thoughts, share ideas, and express themselves without any government interference. However, one should understand that freedom of expression is one thing, and spreading false information or hate is another. On this page, we will be discussing press freedom essay in 500 words.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 Importance of Press Freedom
• 1.2 Press Freedom Challenges
• 1.3 Conclusion
• 2 10-Line Essay on Press Freedom

Quick Read: Essay on My Vision for India

Press Freedom Essay

In a democratic society, press freedom is very important. In today’s modern world, there are different types of press; digital media, print media, internet, broadcasting, newspapers, etc. According to the Press Freedom Index 2023, Norway has been ranked #1 for the seventh consecutive year. India, on the other hand, was ranked #161 out of 180 counties listed. This low rank in India defines the significant decline of press freedom in the country. 

We often hear that the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance. Thus, it is the responsibility of the press to remain vigilant for people’s safety. The media is also responsible for monitoring the freedom of people. Freedom of the press helps hold those in power accountable and ensures that the state’s funds and resources are not used for personal benefits.

Quick Read: Essay on Labour Day

Importance of Press Freedom

There are several reasons for the importance of press freedom. It is essential for the proper functioning of our democratic societies. Press freedom ensures transparency and accountability. We, as citizens, can access a wide range of sources of information. This information offered by the press allows us to make informed decisions about our government, and raise our voice against injustice and unconstitutional activities.

• A free press is sometimes referred to as a ‘watchdog’. With their microphones and cameras, journalists investigate and report on public interest issues, exposing corruption, abuse of power, and other wrongdoing.
• Advocating and protecting human rights is another significant reason for freedom of the press. In war-torn places or countries, journalists highlight human rights abuses, discrimination, and injustices. These help raise awareness and catalyze action to address these issues.
• Press freedom can also encourage innovation and progress by promoting the free flow of information and ideas. This can help create an environment where creativity can thrive, leading to advancements in technology, science, culture, and other fields.
• In a democracy, press freedom is an essential component of the system of checks and balances. 
• In a diverse country like India, press freedom can support cultural diversity and pluralism by offering a platform for people to express or raise their voices against injustice.

Press Freedom Challenges

Every freedom comes with its challenges, and press freedom is no exception. The job of a journalist is full of challenges and risks. A lot of journalists who expose scammers or corrupt political leaders receive threats, and some are devastating. 

• In times of distress or an emergency, countries often impose censorship on the press. It means only that news approved by the government will be published or telecasted.
• The challenges facing female journalists are even worse. In some countries, cultural norms restrict women from working as journalists.
• We, as an audience, often find it difficult to distinguish between reliable journalism and false or misleading information. This is more common in today’s world, where fake news and misinformation have taken a significant leap on social media and digital platforms.
• As of 2022, India’s literacy rate is 76.32%. There is still a large part of the population who lack critical thinking skills and media literacy. 

Quick Read: Essay on Freedom Fighters

Press freedom is very important to keep us informed and vigilant about today’s world and the actions of the government. Press freedom ensures that the government is transparent and accountable. They help in the smooth functioning of the democratic process. It is our responsibility to understand how important freedom of the press is and how it can help shape our decisions.

10-Line Essay on Press Freedom

Here is a 10-line essay on press freedom. 

• Freedom of the Press is crucial to safeguarding democracy.
• Freedom of the Press is categorised under Article 19(1) of the Indian Constitution.
• The World Press Freedom Index releases a report on countries with freedom of the press.
• India was ranked 161 out of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index.
• A free press is sometimes referred to as a ‘watchdog’.
•  Freedom of the press helps hold those in power accountable and ensures that the state’s funds and resources are not used for personal benefits.
• Press censorship, gender discrimination, and the spreading of false information are some challenges to press freedom.
• Journalists and media organisations often fall victim to cyberattacks and online hacks.
• Press freedom can support cultural diversity and pluralism.
• Press freedom can advocate for and protect human rights in war-torn or disputed areas.

Ans: In a democratic society, press freedom is very important. In today’s modern world, there are different types of press; digital media, print media, internet, broadcasting, newspaper, etc. According to the Press Freedom Index 2023, Norway has been ranked #1 for the seventh consecutive year. India, on the other hand, was ranked #161 out of 180 counties listed. This low rank in India defines the significant decline of press freedom in the country. 

Ans: Press Freedom Day is globally observed on the 3rd of May every year.

Ans: According to the World Press Freedom Index 2023 report, India was ranked #161 out of 180 countries listed. This low rank in India defines the significant decline of press freedom in the country.

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Campus publications call for autonomy, protection of press freedom

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – Students from over 30 campus publications within Metro Manila and nearby provinces gathered on Saturday, February 22, to discuss the problems young journalists face at a time when press freedom is under attack.

The huddle, hosted by Rappler’s civic engagement arm MovePH, tackled the  current state of campus journalism .

In today’s political climate where trolls and disinformation campaigns proliferate and the quest for truth becomes an everyday feat, student journalists are now facing a new set of problems in the same way journalists from mainstream and alternative publications are.

The intimidation of the press now covers even campus publications as well.

Students in the huddle identified the biggest problems their publications have faced in terms of pre-publication, publication, and post-publication. Across all 3 categories, the grave problems that resonated with many of the campus publications were varying degrees of administration intervention, which ultimately results in lack of autonomy for campus publications.

Editorial independence

While student publications should ideally be independently published by students, certain administrations still tend to intervene, and in different ways.

Beatrice Puente, editor-in-chief of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s   Philippine Collegian , recalled when two of her co-members were barred from taking their publication’s editorial examinations and were therefore disqualified from running for editor-in-chief. (READ: Is Philippine Collegian facing a press freedom issue? )

Puente recounted that the selection process of their editorial board was initiated by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, whereas editors from other publications have the authority to directly appoint their successors instead.

“Na-realize namin, kung doon pa lang sa simulang process ng pagbuo ng editorial board, sa pagbuo ng susunod na leader ng publication, paano pang magkakaroon ng isang democratic na proseso doon sa university, in essence?” Puente said.

(We realized that, if in the first place, this was how the process of selecting the editorial board and the next leaders of the publication worked, how can we achieve a democratic process in the university, in essence?)

Another characteristic of student publications is that the school administration still provides them with resources and funding.

Many students shared that lack of resources proved to be a major hurdle in producing their stories, and that publishing critical stories may pose threats to campus publications – some more than others, depending on how rigid the universities’ administrations are.

“One of our groupmates got to share about the free tuition [law], which makes them more prone to censorship. If they have stories that are more critical of the government, they might slash their funding, which might be detrimental to the operations of the publication,” Russell Ku of Ateneo de Manila University’s  The GUIDON shared, on behalf of his group composed of different publications.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines said some 200 student publications from state and local universities and colleges nationwide are on the brink of being defunded partly due to the free tuition law.

The law’s implementing rules and regulations do not require the collection of student publication fees. (READ:  The different faces of press freedom violations vs campus journalists )

Many students also talked about how their respective school administrations tend to react negatively toward articles that don’t align with their personal beliefs, or with the school’s values.

“It’s really frowned upon to publish articles that are about the state of the nation and just in general – politics, government, LGBTQ+. I understand we’re from a Catholic school; however, I don’t think it’s good to box students in the privilege they’re put into,” said a participant from a school in Pasig City .

Other school administrations would go as far as outright censorship.

Students from The Bosun of the University of Asia and the Pacific recalled that one of their columnists wrote about the inconsistencies of their school’s Center of Student Affairs. After the column was published, the columnist and members of the editorial board were initially called by administrators to take down the story. It was later negotiated that they could just modify the column.

Meanwhile, members of De La Salle University Manila’s Ang Pahayagang Plaridel shared how one of their special issues was deemed too “vulgar” by the administration. Circulation was later halted.

What’s next?

Students called on the government to revisit the proposed Campus Press Freedom Act, which stipulates provisions not included in the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. (READ: Does the Campus Journalism Act protect press freedom? )

The proposed Campus Press Freedom Act explicitly includes penalties for school administrations or persons who interfere with the operations of any student publication, allowing for greater independence on the part of campus journalists.

“It will require their admins to recognize their right to freely operate and publish,” said Twitter user @heyr0n.

It will strengthen the independence of campus publications inside their respective institutions and require their admins to recognize their right to freely operate and publish, provide their necessary funds, and make any form of admin intervention illegal. #CourageOn (2/2) — dumb account (@heyr0n) February 22, 2020

Students also suggested creating awareness campaigns for people to know why addressing the gaps in the existing Campus Journalism Act is especially urgent in today’s political climate.

“The awareness of the campus press freedom bill is lacking, so we want to spread the different nuances of the current [Campus Journalism Act] and why we need to pass the bill,” said Ku.

Other students also proposed a unified statement from publications against censorship, and possibly a petition that may be forwarded to school administrations.

“The solidarity of campus journalists across different schools and universities can be a powerful catalyst for strengthening campus press freedom,” Clare Pillos of The Bosun tweeted.

The solidarity of campus journalists across different schools and universities can be a powerful catalyst for strengthening campus press freedom. #CourageOn — clare’s new main! #DefendPressFreedom (@washiclare) February 22, 2020

Ultimately, students pointed out how hurdles faced by campus journalists threaten the quest for truth.

“The admin doesn’t lose anything from the absence of student publications, but society loses an arm and a chance in shifting towards a better world,” one participant tweeted.  

Hoping to strengthen the links between campus publications, student organizations, and advocates all over the Philippines, Rappler’s civic engagement arm also launched the revamped MovePH network during the huddle.

The MovePH network aims to provide opportunities for greater citizen participation that shapes the news agenda and catalyzes concrete actions for positive social change. – Rappler.com

Do you want to know more about the MovePH network and be part of an ecosystem of civic action enablers and doers collaborating towards sustainable progress and nation-building? Send an email to [email protected]!  

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 17 May 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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635th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment

635-й зенитно-ракетный полк

Military Unit: 86646

Activated 1953 in Stepanshchino, Moscow Oblast - initially as the 1945th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment for Special Use and from 1955 as the 635th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment for Special Use.

1953 to 1984 equipped with 60 S-25 (SA-1) launchers:

• Launch area: 55 15 43N, 38 32 13E (US designation: Moscow SAM site E14-1)
• Support area: 55 16 50N, 38 32 28E
• Guidance area: 55 16 31N, 38 30 38E

1984 converted to the S-300PT (SA-10) with three independent battalions:

• 1st independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (Bessonovo, Moscow Oblast) - 55 09 34N, 38 22 26E
• 2nd independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion and HQ (Stepanshchino, Moscow Oblast) - 55 15 31N, 38 32 23E
• 3rd independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (Shcherbovo, Moscow Oblast) - 55 22 32N, 38 43 33E

Disbanded 1.5.98.

Subordination:

• 1st Special Air Defence Corps , 1953 - 1.6.88
• 86th Air Defence Division , 1.6.88 - 1.10.94
• 86th Air Defence Brigade , 1.10.94 - 1.10.95
• 86th Air Defence Division , 1.10.95 - 1.5.98

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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