Bill Text: NY K00295 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 3, 2019, as Press Freedom Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 32-13)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-29 - adopted [K00295 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00295-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 295

BY: M. of A. Lavine

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        May  3,  2019,  as Press Freedom Day in the State of
        New York, in  conjunction  with  the  observance  of
        World Press Freedom Day

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 3, 2019,  as  Press
Freedom Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of World Press Freedom Day; and

  WHEREAS, In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May
3rd of each year as World Press Freedom Day to celebrate the fundamental
principles of freedom of the press; evaluate freedom of the press around
the  world; defend against attacks on the independence of the media; and
pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise  of
their profession; and

  WHEREAS,  The  2018 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) warned that "Hostility towards the  media,  openly
encouraged  by  political  leaders,  and  the  efforts  of authoritarian
regimes  to  export  their  vision  of  journalism  pose  a  threat   to
democracies."; and

  WHEREAS,  Freedom of the press, a cornerstone of American democracy,
is enshrined in the first amendment to the  Constitution;  it  helps  to
promote  a  more transparent government, one that involves both citizens
and residents; and

  WHEREAS, Journalists and media  workers  from  New  York  State  and
around the world should by celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of  this  great  Empire  State  for  their  essential  role in promoting
government   accountability,   defending   democratic   activity,    and
strengthening  civil  society,  despite  threats  to the safety of those
journalists and media workers; it is important they are able to do their
job without fear or repercussions; and

  WHEREAS, There have been seven New York Journalists  who  have  died
while  doing  their  job  since  New  York  became a state: Lynde Walter
Buckingham, New York Herald, died on June 23, 1863, in Aldie,  Virginia,
as  a  result  of  an ambush during the U.S. Civil War; Carlo Tresca, II
Martello (The Hammer), died on January  11,  1943,  in  New  York  City,
believed  to  have  been  killed  by a hitman; Manuel de Dios Unanue, El
Diario La Prensa, died on March  11,  1992,  in  Queens,  New  York,  by
Colombian  drug  traffickers; Bill Biggart, Freelance photographer, died
on September  11,  2001,  in  Lower  Manhattan,  New  York  City,  while
photographing  the  rescue  effort  outside the World Trade Center; Paul
Klebnikov, American journalist, died on July 9, 2004, in Moscow, Russia,
after being shot four by unknown  assailants;  Chris  Hondros,  American
Pulitzer  Prize nominated photojournalist, was killed on April 20, 2011,

in Libya; and Marie Colvin, Award Winning Journalist,  was  murdered  in
2012, in Syria, while covering the Syrian Civil War, it was said she was
specifically  targeted  because  of  her  profession, for the purpose of
silencing  those  reporting  on  the  growing opposition movement in the
country; and

  WHEREAS, Challenges  to  free  speech  and  expression  appear  more
frequently and in many more forms; and

  WHEREAS,  For  the  first  time, in the reports 23 year history, RSF
added the United  States  to  the  2018  deadliest  places  to  practice
journalism worst offenders list; and

  WHEREAS,  The  group's  findings  underscore  the  rising  animosity
journalists across the world have encountered in the past year; and

  WHEREAS, The valuable and respected work of journalists  often  puts
them  at  specific  risk  of  intimidation, harassment and violence, the
presence of which often deters journalists from continuing their work or
encourages self-censorship, consequently depriving society of  important
information; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  deeply concerned by all human
rights violations and abuses committed in  relation  to  the  safety  of
journalists  and  media  workers,  including  killing, torture, enforced
disappearance, arbitrary  arrest  and  arbitrary  detention,  expulsion,
intimidation,  harassment,  threats and acts of other forms of violence;
and

  WHEREAS,  Freedom  of  the  press  enhances  public  accountability,
transparency,   and   participation  in  civil  society  and  democratic
governance; and

  WHEREAS, It is imperative that journalist know  they  are  protected
when  doing  their  job,  and  that  there  be greater awareness of this
serious issue; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 3, 2019, as Press
Freedom Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of World Press Freedom Day; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.