ABSTRACT
Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of all human rights, it enables their very possibility by providing the platform to defend their existence and flourishing, it allows citizens to criticize flaws in their implementation and make public their demands to have the rights protected. Since the end of the Second World War freedom of the press is increasingly recognized in international affairs. This steady process has recently been undermined by the revolution of media technologies that put into question the essence and scope of “the press.” An additional factor undermining this freedom comes from politicians challenging it on the basis of the alleged abuse of freedom by “fake news.” This chapter will reflect on and provide arguments for a debate on the scope of contemporary freedom of the press taking into account the position of intergovernmental organizations and scholars. It will point to the threats to freedom coming, in particular, from a lack of understanding of what free media today are.
