Commemorating World Press Freedom Day with Onda Cero

Approximately one hundred of our Year 10 students commemorated World Press Freedom Day this week with the collaboration of Onda Cero radio station in the Valencian Community.

During the talk, Amparo Piqueres, Director of News in the Valencian Community, highlighted the essential role of the journalist as a custodian of reality, underlining that rigour and ethics are the foundations of informational reputation. The speaker highlighted the role of the Spanish Constitution, which protects freedom of expression and prohibits prior censorship, and also reminded her audience that governments have a responsibility to facilitate the communication media's access to information.

One of the key points was the defence of professional secrecy, which is vital for protecting sources and avoiding reprisals, defining it not only as a journalist's right but as a fundamental guarantee for democratic health.

To conclude, Ms Piqueres addressed the issue of hoaxes and fake news, which are of such concern to young people and adolescents. She asked the students which sources they consult to stay informed about current affairs, reminding them that conventional news media also have a presence on social media, but that in these cases, it is with a great deal of work done to verify the truth of what they report.

With this initiative, we bring our students closer to the professional realities of the media to complement their education in values and their understanding of fundamental human rights.

Caxton College is the author of this content, which has previously been published in Spanish by Onda Cero.