EFJ Calls Upon Governments to Stop Tracing Journalists

Journalistic Unions of thirty countries called upon the authorities of the European states to cancel tracing citizens, more exactly tracing journalists.

European Journalist Federation (EFJ) stated at the Berlin Conference several days ago that electronic monitoring on phone and e-mail communications contradicts with the international and European Legal Standards.

Journalists were concerned because on June 17 in Sweden law-makers, the most independent society had to agree on the law that allows the Swedish Defense Ministry to listen to transnational phone-calls and monitor e-mail communication.

“Listening to the phone-calls of the journalists compromises the media sources and it creates the risk for providing the information to the society,” stated Arne Konig, president of the EFJ and Vice-President of Swedish Journalist Federation. “The journalism is standing at the cross-road and we choose a road that supports the reinforcement of editorial standards, respects civil independence and promotes honest activities of media sources.”

At the Berlin Conference the program on maintaining and improving of the media quality and ethic norms in journalism was discussed. The EFJ stated that there is a fundamental link between the improvement of working conditions and maintaining of high- standards in journalism.

Source: Media.ge