October 30, 2013
Chinggis Khaan Hotel
I want to start by saluting the work of Globe International. This is an organization which works tirelessly on media rights, and we are all grateful for your work.
The fact that there are many sponsors -- among them Transparency International, the Press Institute, the Communications Regulatory Commission, and the Embassy of Canada — highlights that this is an important conference. I believe you heard from Ambassador Goldhawk yesterday, and I know he shares my belief in the role of a free and independent media.
You are now more than halfway through an analysis of the media assessment of Mongolia and a discussion of topics as diverse as access of marginalized groups to digital media; the role of trade unions; ethics and many more. I look forward to hearing the recommendations that come out of this conference.
Thomas Jefferson, one of the drafters of our Declaration of Independence, famously said: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
The other framers of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights also recognized this by making the right to free speech and to freedom of the press first among the rights of American citizens enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
Emphasizing the import role of the press, Thomas Jefferson said, "Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it."
In other words: if we limit press freedom, we endanger our liberty.
The embassy recently brought an expert in NGO management to Mongolia to meet with civil society organizations; while she was here she had almost as much to say about the role of the media as the role of civil society.
She divided a democracy into several parts -- government, business, civil society and the media.
The media plays a crucial part in that it links all the other parts together.
The media shines a light on social problems, so that the government and civil society will know they exist.
The media watches over government institutions to ensure they are looking after the interests of the people.
The media watches after and reports on business, so that the profit motive will not lead to a sacrifice of human rights.
The media highlights the work of civil society and also holds those organizations to account.
The media has, in its power, the ability to bring public attention to nearly anything — that is, if the media is free to report and if members of the media take their responsibility seriously.
The work you are doing here at this conference, and the work Globe, and organizations like it, are doing is meant to ensure press freedom so that the reporters can do their job of giving the people information to make decisions necessary in a democracy.
But let’s be clear, journalists also have important RESPONSIBILITIES
You must use your power for the benefit of society, rather than your own personal benefit. You must be willing to be a public forum. You must not be afraid to speak truth to power.
I urge you to report fairly, to unmask hypocrisy, to shine the light on corruption. To do these things is not always easy, but it is important.
Granted, training, education, funding are all exceedingly important. Occasionally I hear the justification that someone lacks the resources to do what his hearts intends; let me be clear, that’s a lousy excuse. You must have the courage of your convictions; and, for inspiration, look to the good that responsible reporters have done throughout history.
I wish you great success in determining your recommendations, and in bringing them to fruition over the coming months, and even years.
I’d like to end with another, more recent quote from Caroline Little, CEO of the Newspaper Association of America.
Talking of the press, she said: “What other institution has the power to talk to key leaders, inspire social change and uncover corruption, while analyzing and providing context for major global events? “ She invited diligent reporters to empower citizens. That’s a worthy challenge I encourage you all to take up.