SPGPM Calls for Journalists to Be Guaranteed Access to Information

The Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers of Macedonia (SPGPM) has expressed concern over the emergence of a practice in which the Government continually avoids answering journalists’ questions and obstructs access to information of public interest. According to the union, such a situation occurred again during yesterday’s event, when the Government’s public relations service responded to questions selectively.

SPGPM stresses that the Government has a duty to maintain transparent communication with the public. It says silence cannot be used as a policy, while journalists’ questions must not go unanswered. Such an approach prevents journalists from verifying the information they seek, while press conferences cannot be turned into monologues where questions are not allowed.

The union notes that the Government’s PR service has a clear responsibility to answer every journalistic question and that it is not its role to decide whether or not a question “deserves” an answer. Determining the importance of questions does not fall within the remit of government communications services, but belongs to journalists, the media and the public. For this reason, SPGPM is calling for this practice to end.

SPGPM’s statement also calls on government officials responsible for media relations to treat journalists with professionalism and respect./Telegrafi/