Fine against Top Channel, attack against media

Stephen Pearse, Vice General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, at the same time Chief of the European Federation of Journalists, declared that the “Pango Investigation” by Top Channel’s “Fiks Fare” program is a clear case of investigative journalists who try to defend the public interest.

“We have a clear defense of the public interest, by guaranteeing that we, as journalists, can make the executive power accountable for their actions. And sometimes it is necessary to use a series of different means for guaranteeing that the persons who hold a public office, will use it as they should, and that they will behave according the highest ethical standards. On this case, we have a clear defense of the public interest”, Pearse declared.

TCH: The concerns that many journalists will have for this case, are the exaggerated fines that clearly bring to auto censorship and that could intimidate the journalists, by preventing media organizations from conducting investigative journalism, which is important for the public interest and a vital element for every democracy.

“Certainly, we would be very concerned by the exaggerated fines that could prevent journalists from seeking stories that are important to the public’s interest. I think that the most important thing is to guarantee that the journalists are free to investigate the persons who hold a public office. It is vital for a law, regardless the way how it is structured, to not prevent investigative journalists from defending the real public interests. We will have very serious concerns if the high fines will stop journalists from doing their job, and I think that this is a major attack against the media freedom”, Pearse declared.

TCH: Which is the situation in the European countries, based on your experience? Are there such fines against journalists who use hidden cameras?

“The situation differs from one country to another, but the journalists’ right to be able to act on behalf of the public interest is recognized by the European laws and the European Convention of Human Rights, which is about the freedom of expression. The national legislation should not undertake steps that block the freedom of speech, especially on those cases when the public interest is stronger and the journalists are demanding the governing structures to be accountable for their actions”, Pearse declared.

The National Federation of Journalists will continue following the judicial process against Top Channel. The European Commercial TV Association also declared that the fine against Top Channel, after it published the video that implicated the former Minister, Ylli Pango, in a serious scandal, brings a shocking effect to the freedom of speech and the media.

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