Censorship in the Era of COVID-19

By Joy Wada, Corporate Communications Intern

Television, Twitter feeds, newspapers, oh my! In a world overrun with an endless news cycle, what are you not seeing? Amid the chaos of current events, governments, organizations, and societies around the globe are censoring critical information related to the pandemic. Especially in this period of crisis, it remains crucial to protect the public’s right to know and to access information.  

Index on Censorship, a nonprofit focused on supporting freedom of expression across the world, has been logging incidents, attacks, and threats to media liberties and free speech since 1972. From the start of the pandemic, Index has reported 245 total verified incidents. Not simply editing news reports or censoring social media (which are also egregious acts on their own), there have been 63 detentions or arrests of journalists, 47 journalists restricted from reporting, and 18 legislation changes to restrict media freedoms.  

Are these incidents still happening? Is there anything we can do? Does this even matter? Yes, yes, and YES. Index on Censorship has created a page focused on COVID-19 with an interactive map detailing recent attacks on personal and media liberties. It offers a space for individuals to report concerns and acts as a beacon of transparency during this tumultuous time. Furthermore, this page draws attention to the crucial need for protection regarding accessibility in the press, government, and academic fields, because unfortunately, yes, censorship does affect more areas than just the media. 

For centuries, countries, religious communities, and politicians – even bookstores, libraries, and school systems – have been censoring books and their contained knowledge. In response, Banned Books Week was started in 1982 to protect and support freedom of expression and accessibility to ideas and resources. The event this year takes place September 27 – October 3 under the theme of “Censorship is a dead end. Find your freedom to read!” serving as a reminder of the valuable nature for freedom of learning and access to information. 

Now more than ever, it is the time to bridge communities and take action to protect the public’s right to know. When literature, media, and resources are censored, we not only face an attack on our personal freedoms, but we also lose access to valuable, diverse information and opinions. So the next time you turn on your television, scroll through your feed, or start that podcast, pause to consider what you are reading or hearing and, more importantly, what you may be missing.  

About

Joy Wada is the Corporate Communications Intern at SAGE Publishing where she creates content for social media channels and blog sites. She currently studies Communication and Business at the University of Southern California. When she isn’t working, she may be spotted skateboarding around campus, Yelping a new restaurant, or baking on her quest to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe (if you ask nicely, she will share).