States Should Let Journalists Work Freely Without Fear or Favor

TIRANA – On the World Press Freedom Day, the OSCE Presence in Albania stands by the Albanian journalists in fulfilling media’s crucial mission in democratic countries at any times, and especially in times of crisis like the current COVID-19 pandemic, said a statement released by the press office of this organization in Tirana on Sunday.

“We support them (journalists) in their efforts for proper working contracts, better access to information, freedom of expression, and increased professionalism,” said the press release which also touched upon issues like deconcentration of media ownership and full decriminalization of defamation.

World Press Freedom Day popularly known as World Press Day is one of the calendar events planned, organized and promoted by the United Nations, observed annually on May 3. The day is celebrated to raise awareness regarding the importance of freedom of the press.

“On this occasion, we also reiterate the OSCE’s recommendations for access for journalists to public events in particular during election campaigns, deconcentration of media ownership, and full decriminalization of defamation, and encourage media self-regulation as a superior alternative to government regulation,” said Tirana OSCE Presence.

Earlier in a video message published on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day in Vienna on Saturday, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called on participating States throughout the OSCE region to let journalists work without fear or favour, especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Let journalists do their job unhindered, ensure them access to information and support those media that are financially struggling because of the pandemic,” the Representative said. “Our health depends not only on readily accessible health care, but also on access to accurate information about the pandemic, its evolution, and ways of protecting ourselves and others,” he said.

Further on Mr. Désir said he fully understands the will of the authorities to combat false information, such as about false cures. “However, this cannot be achieved by limiting media freedom. Rumours are best tackled by ensuring access to pluralistic and independent sources of information, rather than through censorship.”

He launched an appeal to the authorities throughout the OSCE region as the following: “Please, let journalists do their job unhindered, ensure them access to information and support those media that are financially struggling because of the pandemic.”

The Representative closed by announcing that the theme of the 2020 World Press Freedom Day is journalism without fear or favor. “Freedom of the media is a pillar of our democracy. The free flow of information is a vital need of all citizens. This is even more crucial when the world is struck by a crisis such as the one we are all currently facing,” he said. /argumentum.al