New york: A single New York Times article on a disaster generated an additional $500,000 in official aid. That's just one of the findings on the critical role a free press plays in saving lives, according to a new UN report released on Tuesday. A free press is crucial to saving lives, mitigating the impacts of humanitarian disasters, and strengthening disaster preparedness and risk reduction.According to United Nations, research across 152 countries links greater press freedom with lower risks of conflict, repression, and human rights violations. Trusted journalism acts as a crucial source to counter false and harmful disinformation. From COVID-19 and human rights to climate action and earthquake response, journalists doing their jobs save lives while also acting as an antidote to harmful fake news, as noted in the UNESCO report titled "The Value of Journalism: Global Evidence on Why Media Matters to Economies, National Security, and Crises."Key findings highlight that beyond countering disinformation, tr usted media strengthens government accountability, helps affected communities access support, and pushes governments and local officials to take action. Good reporting also leads to a more efficient and extensive response, from emergency needs to dealing with disasters. Critical reporting acts as a watchdog to keep the aid sector honest, leading to reform and more effective responses, according to UNESCO, which supports media literacy around the world.The report also emphasizes the impact of original environmental journalism in leading to better protection of natural ecosystems. For instance, an online magazine reporting on wastewater discharge from a landfill site in Thailand prompted authorities to step in, while investigations into illegal sand mining in Uganda led to a nationwide ban.Among various examples, the report mentions how radio programs in Burkina Faso about the risks of infant malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea significantly increased the rate at which caregivers took children to health center s, reducing child mortality by an average of 7.15% per year and saving an estimated 2,967 children's lives. Additionally, a campaign by journalists at the Los Angeles Times led to new building codes that made California's largest city more earthquake-resilient.The report also highlights the role of radio in connecting families after a major earthquake, encouraging children to return to school, and spreading critical safety information to prevent disease outbreaks. In Nigeria, radio content designed to address COVID-19 misinformation and vaccine hesitancy helped listeners identify and challenge false narratives.Disinformation has posed significant challenges during health crises like COVID-19, described by the WHO as an "infodemic," leading to millions of cases and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths. Trusted journalism serves as a crucial source to counter these narratives and convey expert advice.The report further underscores how news coverage can prompt significant charitable giving. British jou rnalist Michael Buerk's reporting from Ethiopia in 1984 raised over $200 million for famine relief, while Turkish photojournalist Nilfer Demir's photo of Alan Kurdi in 2015 significantly increased donations to Syrian conflict relief efforts.