Journalists Have a Problem with Modesty – And It's Killing the Profession

On this Press Freedom Day, as the world marks the occasion with celebrations or calls for greater liberty, Mirko Petricevic, an activist, asserts that it is time for journalists to unite and champion their profession with collective resolve. From the standpoint of Dnevnik, a Bulgarian publication that values critical discourse, Petricevic's message is a poignant reminder that the fight for press freedom is not merely an external battle but also an internal one.

Petricevic identifies a peculiar paradox within the journalistic community: a tendency towards modesty that, he argues, is detrimental to the profession. This self-effacing attitude, while perhaps rooted in a desire for objectivity, inadvertently weakens journalism's public standing and its ability to advocate for itself. He suggests that this perceived lack of assertiveness allows external pressures and criticisms to undermine the vital role journalists play in society.

His call to 'wave the flag of journalism with collective determination' is a direct challenge to the status quo. Petricevic implies that a more visible, confident, and unified front is required to counter the erosion of trust and the increasing challenges faced by the media globally. The message resonates particularly in contexts where journalistic independence is under threat, urging practitioners to recognize their collective power and to actively defend the principles and practices that define their essential work.