Editorial Cartoons Available for Press Freedom Day, May 3

OTTAWA, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - Thirteen prize-winning editorial cartoons are now available, at no cost, for publication on May 3rd in celebration of World Press Freedom Day.

The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (CCWPF) will announce the winners of its annual international editorial cartoon competition at a luncheon in Ottawa on Friday, May 3rd.  Selected out of hundreds of submissions from around the world, three top cartoonists will win cash prizes and ten runner-ups will receive certificates of excellence.

The CCWPF encourages print and digital media outlets to publish any or all of these cartoons on or after May 3, requiring only the appending of appropriate credits. 

High resolution versions of the 13 cartoon finalists can be viewed and downloaded at these pages (English/French):

http://www.ccwpf-cclpm.ca/cartoons-2013/cartoons-2013-winners
http://www.ccwpf-cclpm.ca/caricatures-2013/caricatures-2013-laureats

The theme of this year's competition is: "Hard times and free speech: "When journalists and cartoonist face economic uncertainty or threats to their employment, there is great pressure to give up on tackling tough stories, give in to self-censorship or give attention to sensationalist journalism in the service of commercial sustainability. But can free speech survive hard times?

May 3 was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day the UN General Assembly in 1993 and ever since it has served as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of freedom of expression rights - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

SOURCE: Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom

http://www.ccwpf-cclpm.ca/

Contacts:
Bob Carty [phone]  [email protected]
Guy Badeaux: 613-562-7506    [email protected]