Attacks on the media: Authorities are a greater threat to journalism than criminal organizations
The safety of journalists in the EU after the third murder in the last 4 years is no longer a matter of course
Confidence in the media is declining, attacks are on the rise
“I am writing this because I am forced to seek protection in public. On the afternoon of April 6, 2021, I was visited at Documento headquarters by a man who wanted to inform me that I was in danger. He told me that the entertainer, Menios Fourthiotis, on whom we reported extensively in our newspaper, was looking in the Athenian underworld for a professional assassin to “remove” me and another journalist. A few weeks later, I received a phone call warning me to be careful because police in downtown Athens intercepted two men on a motorcycle who were shooting at them and fleeing. This confrontation with the police supposedly prevented their plan to continue their way to my house,“ Greek journalist and editor of the daily Documento, Kostas Vaksevanis, wrote to the public few weeks ago.
Just three days earlier, his journalist colleague, Giorgos Karaivaz, had been killed in cold blood in Athens.
This week is marked by free media.
Almost thirty years ago, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day, so this week we are discussing again how freedom of expression has become almost a privilege in some countries.
The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is in the style of “Information as a public good”. We want to emphasize the undeniable importance of verified and reliable information,“ said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She pointed out the essential role of free and professional journalists and the resolution of false information and harmful content.
May 3 is intended to remind governments around the world of the need to respect their commitment to freedom of the press, and at the same time it is a day to reflect on what freedom of expression and professional journalistic ethics mean.
“I would like to pay tribute to all journalists who work tirelessly, sometimes under political or financial pressure, even risking their lives to verify the facts and control the government,” said Vera Jourova, vice-president of the European Commission, promised that the European Commission will continue to fight for media freedom, the safety of journalists and mention financial support.
“Freedom of the media is not our right, but the right of all of us,” she added.
After Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia lost her life in a car bomb in October 2017, the situation of journalists in Europe has not improved: two more have lost their lives in the brutal murders since then.
Galizia investigated corruption, abuse of power, and networking of organized criminal organizations with close ties to the political top. Because of her work, she was exposed to threats, intimidation and lawsuits from those whose irregularities she revealed.
Galizia’s work has shown that the most disturbing to power are critical, loud, rebellious and persistent journalists.
On World Press Freedom Day, it is therefore important to support media whose work is limited, which are the target of attacks because of their research, and it is a time to remember those who risked everything to find the truth and reveal their stories.
Who actually threatens credible and free journalism?
We spoke to journalists from Slovakia, Greece and Serbia about the situation of the media, the attacks and the legacy of those who lost their lives.
Article was originally published in Slovenian Daily, Vecer: Napadi na medije: Oblast je večja grožnja novinarstvu kot kriminalne organizacije (archive.is)
