An Onslaught to Media Freedom

The ongoing attack on media freedom is a threat to the rights of all.

Yesterday’s new report fails to conclude that press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in at least a decade.

The market for ideas still exists, but fundamental factors are under threat. It’s not a pretty picture. Freedom of expression and information in many places is upside down.

Turkey is a prime example of one of the worst. Examples – Philippines, Egypt, Poland, Mexico, Venezuela.

All over the world, more and more journalists are being silenced, harassed or even killed. According to the investigation, 259 people were imprisoned for political reasons last year and 79 were killed. “Global media freedom is at its lowest level since the beginning of the century,” the report warns.

It’s bad enough, but it’s not uncommon.

For almost four centuries, this metaphor has embodied the belief that in free, fair and transparent competition the best ideas always win. In democratic societies, freedom of expression, which includes freedom of expression and freedom of the press, is protected by this belief.

Threatening journalists today make this belief naive.

We are not helpless in the face of breaking the peace of our union, but we must all get out of our echo chambers and act against it.

The challenge for teachers and academic institutions is to conduct fact-checking and improve the ability of each student to make informed judgements.

For journalists and media organizations, threats must lead to an honest understanding of our actions and objectives. The attack poses a real threat to freedom of speech and the press as it begins to force political leaders to turn to draconian legislation in an attempt to retaliate.

Consider the danger. No matter how divided our communication may be on certain days, a free flow of ideas of interested citizens is preferable to better state control over our public discussions.

Dictators and powerful figures in many countries, including trade unions, have often restricted media freedom as part of their efforts to strengthen control. For example, the transition to authoritarianism in our union was accompanied by predictable pressure on the media.

The latest wrinkle is a new threat to an editorial column dated Monday, December 18, 2017, in which some personalities have made it private and public. Usually these are typical destructive gossip in our union itself, but there is a real risk that the media will start repression in other unions if the necessary measures are not taken. If the Federal Union of Modake students, among all trade unions, does not defend the principle of media freedom, why should other unions pay attention?

None of this applies to the special privileges afforded to the media. Years of experience have shown that trampling on the free press is part of a much larger attack on the rights of all.

The new FUMS Parrot report serves a useful purpose, shedding light on this threat.