Censorship and the Media: The Stories You Don't Get to Hear

"A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad."
     —Albert Camus

April 2, 2007—Government censorship of the media exists in many countries, for reasons related to politics, national security, or morality, among others. It poses a serious dilemma for journalists, who are prevented from conveying a story or situation accurately. It is also a stumbling block for artists, writers, and musicians, who feel restricted from freely expressing themselves.

Film, perhaps for it’s mass audience, is one medium that is frequently subjected to bans or censorship. One recent notable case is the Indian film Water (2006). The film has been repeatedly banned by local government authorities for its stark portrayal of the bleak situation of Indian widows. Hindu extremists burnt down the set and destroyed prints and the original film negative. Director Deepa Mehta abandoned the project for four years, but eventually filmed it in Sri Lanka. The movie ended up receiving an Oscar nomination.

In Iran, a movie cannot be filmed without prior government approval of the script. The state also alters any poetry or music lyrics before allowing release. For this reason, many Iranian artists either live in self-exile, or exercise self-censorship, pre-empting any censorship they anticipate from the government. This obviously, has implications on the integrity of their work.

But freedom of speech is not a black and white issue. There have been cases where certain publications or films threatened public safety, by causing widespread anger. This happened in September 2005, when a Danish newspaper published cartoons depicting Muhammad as a terrorist.

Learn More

Article 19
Article 19 works worldwide to combat censorship by promoting freedom of expression.

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
According to the IFJ, "there can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of corruption, poverty, or fear."

International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
IFEX was formed to counter violations to free expression.

International Press Institute (IPI)
International Press Institute, is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, dedicated to freedom of the press and improving the standards and practices of journalism.

World Association of Newspapers (WAN)
WAN defends and promoting press freedom and the economic independence of newspapers as an essential condition for that freedom.

Write to Youthink!

What is the situation in your country? Do you think there is such a thing as too much freedom of expression? Write in with your thoughts.

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