By Bakah Derick Today, we are observing the International Day of Democracy. This is coming in the face of expanding government control and diminishing press freedom around us. It is imperative that we rise collectively and proclaim the urgent need to let the private press breathe. A robust, independent private press is the lifeblood of any democracy, serving as the voice of the people, exposing corruption, holding power accountable and providing public serviceinformation which those in power largely benefit from. Without freedom for private media outlets, we risk the erosion of democratic principles, the stifling of dissent, and the triumph of authoritarianism. Photo by European Journalism Observatory I can only remind us all that the private press has a sacred duty to uphold the truth, free from the shackles of state manipulation and censorship. It acts as a beacon of unbiased reporting, meticulously pursuing the facts, and shining light on hidden agendas. Letting the private pr