Irish Examiner view: Protect our news

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day next Friday, we should all be cognisant of the fragile nature of press freedom and here in Ireland we should be working hard to ensure to protect what we have got.

Media freedom is something we take for granted in this country and it is something we should, but perhaps don’t, cherish.

We should especially value the fact that our print, digital, and broadcast media are largely committed to reporting factually and truthfully, even when it does not sit comfortably with those in power or those with an agenda of one sort or
another.

Yesterday, the annual report of the Berlin-based Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) stated that “media freedom is clearly in steady decline across the EU” and said this was a result of deliberate harm or neglect by national governments. Europe’s media landscape continues to be notable for heavily concentrated media ownership, inadequate rules on that ownership, and regular threats to the finances and independence of television and radio stations, as well as the print sector. Sadly, the Liberties report also documents multiple incidents of threat, intimidation, violence, and surveillance of journalists in many EU states.

A glimmer of light exists thanks to the new European Media Freedom Act, which has created a legal basis for media freedom, but the European Commission will have to be vigilant as to how member states implement the law.

That journalists in countries such as France, Croatia, Germany, Italy, and Greece faced physical attacks last year is bad enough; that they faced abuse and threats in Hungary and Slovakia from elected officials is worse.

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day next Friday, we should all be cognisant of the fragile nature of press freedom and here in Ireland we should be working hard to ensure to protect what we have got.