TV journalists take united stand against systematic censorship

Reporters Without Borders is disturbed by the latest evidence of government pressure and harassment of the media that has emerged since it addressed an open letter to President Viktor Yanukovych on 28 April. Several journalists employed by TSN, the news service of the popular TV station 1+1, issued an open letter yesterday condemning the censorship to which they are now being subjected. “We, TSN journalists, want to announce that censorship has been introduced into 1+1,” the letter began. They said they were forbidden to cover certain stories, while reports criticising the new government were being withdrawn for political reasons. They said permission to broadcast an item now had to be obtained from the station’s director-general, Oleksander Tkachenko, instead of their news editor. Affirming the right to ignore political considerations, they said they wanted to inform viewers rather than put out propaganda for this or that party. “Freedom of expression is not an empty shell, it is the basis of our profession,” the letter said. “It is the reason for which we categorically reject the pressure being put on us.” Demanding an immediate end to control over TSN and to “the shameful practice of directives and instructions,” they called for a return to basic principles of journalism – objectivity, balance and fairness. Warning that they would henceforth try to report every case of censorship they learn about, they finally announced they would go on strike if their demands were not met. Journalists at the STB television station followed suit today, issuing an open letter in which they, too, condemned the systematic censorship that has been introduced within their station in recent months. Since last January’s presidential elections, there had been changes not only to the priorities but also to the tone to be adopted when reporting the news, the letter said. “Irony must no longer be used when talking of political events or politicians,” it added. As this kind of pressure on the news media is unacceptable in a democratic country, Reporters Without Borders supports this initiative by the journalists and encourages all those who believe in a free press to do so too. Reporters Without Borders also urges the 1+1 management, which has just admitted some of the cases of censorship, to respect its journalists and allow them to work normally.