Slovenian journalists express solidarity with Catalan colleagues
Ljubljana, 24 October - Slovenian journalist organisations expressed on Tuesday solidarity with their Catalan colleagues and support for preserving the autonomy and independence of the Catalan public media, which have come under pressure from the Spanish government.
Ljubljana
Representatives of the media in parliament.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
The Association of Slovenian Journalists (DNS), the Association of Journalists and Commentators (ZNP) and the Trade Union of Journalists reacted to Saturday's announcement of the Spanish government it will assume control of the Catalan media.
They wrote that the public media operate not in the name of the government but in the name of the public, which is why it is of utmost importance that managements and supervisors are appointed in democratic procedures that protect journalists against political pressure.
They stressed that political control over public media is undemocratic in its very essence. "The announced grave intervention...could possibly be expected of an undemocratic country but not of a government of an EU member state," the organisations wrote in a press release.
If the takeover happens, they expect of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) to demand action against Spain on the part of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council of Europe.
"The freedom of the press and of expression is one of the basic human rights and pillars of European integration," the release says.