World Press Freedom Day 2015
03/05/2015
Once again the
recurrence of the “World Press Freedom Day” faces a very worrying situation for journalists and media people in
general giving their time and energy to inform about what is happening on a
local, national, European and worldwide level.
Unfortunately, is
daily evidence of journalists who in addition to giving time and energy for
providing information give their life. The atrocity committed by ISIS has
shocked the entire civilized world.
On the today’s
World Press Freedom recurrence our thoughts go out to all the 96 journalists
and media people who during last year were killed because and during their journalistic work. We also think of the 200
journalists of different gender who in performing their profession were
arrested and are seating now in jail.
Particularly intensified has been the situation in China.
And how not to
think at the more than 150 colleagues of different gender who needed to leave
their country due do murder threat or to escape arrest.
Behind these
tragic numbers there is immeasurable suffering of people, dreadful destinies,
traumatized families. And all this do to the fact that these colleagues wanted
to make truth and facts transparent.
Especially
terrible is the fact that significant numbers of this situation refer to
Europe.
In the Ukraine
33 journalists were abducted while performing theit profession; six journalists
were killed and 47 ( most of them by separatists) were arrested.
In addition to
that attacks and threats against journalists have increased dramatically in
Ukraine (215 cases in 2014).
The EJ requires
in this day from both the Ukraine government and the separatists respect for
the professional activity of the journalists who have not to be hindered in the
performance of the important work.
Our journalistic
work has become harder also due to the fact that in addition to violence we
need to face hostility by groups which criticize and question the importance of
the media.
Freedom of
expression is a principle and a value anchored in many national constitutions
and international conventions and papers but the reality is often quite
different. It happens that the same governments that should guarantee the
correct and full implementation of the rule of law are the first ones to
disrespect It, forcing often journalists to perform self-censorship.
Unfortunately we have also within the European Union, especially in Eastern
Europe, situations with no suitable provisions for the protection of
journalists.
We experience unfortunately
situations where journalists are not paid for writing, but “for not writing”,
with total political unconcern.
Free information and freedom of
expression are basic conditions for democratic participation. Lack of free
information and access to information sources means undermining a democratic
society.
Concentration of media is another trend
threatening freedom of expression.
As the UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon,the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova
and the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has stated in a joint declaration for
the World Press Freedom Day, “Quality
journalism enables citizens to make informed decisions about their society’s
development. It also works to expose injustice, corruption, and the abuse of
power. For this, journalism must be able to thrive, in an enabling environment
in which they can work independently and without undue interference and in
conditions of safety."
The World Press Freedom Day
2015 theme is: “Let Journalism Thrive! Towards better reporting, gender
equality and media safety in the digital age”.
In order to make it possible
we need the convergence of efforts and commitments by all the institutions
having at heart human dignity and the future of a better world.
In addition to the new
opportunities offered by the digital age we need to be very well prepared in
the management of the ProCom WebWorld. To this regard “Open Journalism”, for
which the office of the “OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media” promotes praiseworthy initiatives, is a new way of
information-communication requiring particular ethic and legal attention.
Praiseworthy are also all the initiatives and undertakings of the “Information
Society and Action against Crime Department” of the College of Europe.
With regard to the European
Union, the relevant Institutions must be more committed to make sure that all
the member states’ governments act responsibly in guaranteeing freedom of
expression.
The “European Journalists
Association - The Communication Network” (EJ) is committed since its
establishment to promote freedom of the media and is preparing a new
cooperation setting to further strengthening its engagement in the relevant
field.
Statement drafted by:
Paolo Magagnotti
EJ President
Rotger H.Kinderman
EJ Vice-president