Press Freedom in Retreat

Published in El Pais
(Spain) on 4 May 2018
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Jamie Agnew. Edited by Margaret Dalzell.
Practicing journalism with full safety guarantees has become increasingly difficult the world over. Hostility toward the media, bullying of journalists, excessive defamation laws and censorship are all gaining ground. Freedom of the press, which yesterday had its international day of celebration, is in retreat in the face of both old and new enemies. These range from drug traffickers to paramilitaries, together with terrorist groups who see reporters as an easy target, as well as nationalism and populism. All of these things are united in their determination to obstruct and cut short the work of journalists through coercion and manipulation and ignore the fact that freedom of the press is a basic pillar of the rule of law and a counterbalance to power.

It is not only totalitarian countries that are a risk for journalists. They are also persecuted and killed in Europe. In less than a year, two reporters who were investigating systematic corruption in the spheres of political power died violently in Malta and Slovakia. These are crimes about which the whole European Union should feel pained, shocked and, at the same time, demand that they do not go unpunished.

Journalism is subject to subtle but damaging threats. The proliferation of “fake news,” foreign interference in electoral processes and the use of personal data to influence citizens are phenomena that have become more prevalent thanks to social media, which has taken disinformation to unexpected extremes.

In the face of this aggression, freedom of the press must be defended so that people have rigorously researched, independent and quality information available to them. When the public has access to news which is true and verified, it can coherently and confidently make decisions. Only in this way does public discourse progress and democracy advance.


Retrocede la libertad de prensa

Los ciudadanos necesitan una información rigurosa, independiente y de calidad

Ejercer el periodismo con plenas garantías se ha convertido en una tarea cada vez más difícil en todo el mundo. La hostilidad hacia los medios de comunicación, el acoso a los profesionales, las abusivas leyes sobre difamación y la censura van ganando terreno. La libertad de prensa, que ayer celebró su día internacional, está en retroceso ante viejos y nuevos enemigos: desde el narcotráfico a los paramilitares, pasando por los grupos terroristas que ven en los reporteros un blanco fácil, los nacionalismos y los populismos. A todos les une su empeño por obstaculizar y cercenar el trabajo de los periodistas imponiendo la coacción y la manipulación e ignorando que la prensa es un pilar básico del Estado de derecho y un contrapeso del poder.

No solo los países totalitarios son un riesgo para los profesionales. También en Europa son perseguidos y asesinados. En menos de un año, dos reporteros que investigaban la corrupción sistemática en el ámbito del poder político murieron violentamente en Malta y Eslovaquia, unos crímenes sobre los que toda la UE debe sentirse dolida y escandalizada y, a la vez, exigir que estos asesinatos no queden impunes.

El periodismo se ve sometido a amenazas más sutiles pero también muy dañinas. La proliferación de noticias falsas, la injerencia extranjera en procesos electorales o la utilización de datos personales para influir en el voto de los ciudadanos son fenómenos que se han visto acelerados gracias a las redes sociales, que han llevado la desinformación a extremos insospechados.

Frente a estas agresiones, la libertad de prensa tiene que ser defendida para que los ciudadanos tengan una información rigurosa, independiente y de calidad. Cuando el público accede a noticias honestas y veraces puede tomar decisiones firmes y coherentes. Solo así progresa el debate público y avanza la democracia.
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