President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has described the media as the "Fourth Estate," playing the most vital role in connecting the separate powers explicitly defined in the Constitution. The President made these remarks in a message released to mark World Press Freedom Day, where he extended his greetings to all those active in the Maldivian media, particularly the nation’s hardworking journalists.

President Muizzu emphasized that responsible journalism plays the greatest role in empowering citizens and ensuring a transparent, democratic environment built on information and accountability. In his message, he noted that while freedom of expression is highly valued in Islam, the religion also defines certain limits and standards, encouraging adherence to moral standards, the protection of public interest, the maintenance of peace and security, and the safeguarding of human dignity.

The President highlighted that in the modern era, all forms of freedom are built upon the foundation of press freedom, and he called for a renewed commitment to protecting the rights of journalists. He assured that providing a safe environment for journalists has been a top priority since his first day in office and pledged to uphold all constitutional rights granted to them.

As part of the administration's efforts to support the industry, the President announced that a "Media Village" will soon be opened to provide a dedicated space for media operations. To ensure financial independence, the government has decided to allocate a specific percentage of the state budget to media outlets through a transparent and structured mechanism. Furthermore, the administration aims to build an educated generation of media professionals through training, familiarization programs, and increased collaboration with international journalists.

The President also emphasized that his administration welcomes constructive criticism aimed at holding the government accountable and maintaining transparency. He expressed pride in the growing number of young people entering the field, noting that the Maldives has one of the highest numbers of media outlets relative to its population.

Regarding global issues, the President expressed deep sadness over the deliberate targeting and killing of journalists in some parts of the world, calling for an immediate end to these atrocities. He also warned about the dangers of the modern digital world, where Deepfakes and Artificial Intelligence are being used as tools to spread misinformation. He urged journalists to be increasingly vigilant in providing accurate information to the public and concluded by calling on all stakeholders to work together to establish an independent and safe Maldivian media landscape.