Being invited to participate in the 2022 World Press Freedom Day in Uruguay by the Permanent Secretariat of Nobel Peace Laureates was a special moment for me. Knowing that I was about to collaborate with peers around the world, and interview world leaders, activists, and policymakers was exhilarating. So, I gladly packed my bags to journey across seas and time zones. Traveling from Johannesburg on Thursday evening to land in Montevideo on Saturday afternoon was taxing! I traveled through Emirates, via Johannesburg, Dubai, Sau Paulo, then Montevideo. From Montevideo, we took a scenic drive by bus to Punta del Este. During my 2-day long journey, I read a book I had recently bought Salt Houses by Hala Alyan. The flourishing poetry in the storytelling of the novel kept me entertained. When I got to Sau Paulo, I met up with one of the selected participants for the UNESCO Youth Newsroom and enjoyed having company along the way.
From Sau Paulo, we took a flight to Montevideo. Arriving at Montevideo’s Carrasco International Airport on Saturday midday was a welcome relief after a very long air trip. I managed to go past passport control without incident. The UNESCO marshals who were hired to receive us were warm and welcoming and remarkably polite. I was very pleased with that. The only thing that dampened my spirits was that GOL airline had lost my baggage. Nonetheless, I proceeded to lodge a complaint with the airport representatives at the GOL service desk. My bag was later found on Monday evening. So, I wasn’t wearing my best clothes on the first day of the conference.
World Press Freedom Day 2022 emphasised the centrality of safety issues in securing peace and freedom for all world citizens. Cyber-attacks on women journalists, LGBTI+ communities, abduction, and killing of media workers were key matters that came to the fore across all panels. Furthermore, some panels interrogated key questions on the viability of media in an ever-evolving digital world.
The conference rooms at Punta del Este’s Convention & Exhibition centre were quite spacious, and the dining area was also open enough to comfortably accommodate all patrons from across the world during lunch breaks. The registration and reception area also had enough staff to handle queries from participants. This event had an indelible impression on me. The experience I enjoyed as a writer and a media professional is remarkable. I sat on panels with some of the world’s illustrious leaders and activists, I made new friends, and I had the opportunity to immerse myself in Latin and Caribbean socio-political issues.
Being in the UNESCO Youth Newsroom was a fun and fulfilling experience. I can proudly say I produced the first article to be posted on the newsroom website on the first day of the conference, giving people an overview of the conference and its significance.
Mohau Bosiu 