AJM and SSNM: Government press services should not have an advantage over media teams

A group of journalists, photojournalists and camera operators were again prevented from reporting on an event at Skopje airport this morning by security services.

During the promotion of the airline Skopje – Sofia, representatives of the domestic media were distanced few hundred meters from the event without the opportunity to take a statement or document footage of the events. At the same time, camera operators employed by government institutions as well as journalists from Bulgaria had access to the plane itself after landing, as well as to representatives of the delegation.

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) consider such treatment of the media teams that were duly invited and accredited to cover the event unacceptable. It is necessary to understand that they are there on duty to report on behalf of the public and that the organizers of the event should provide appropriate working conditions. On the other hand, government camera operators and media officers must not have a privileged status, as in that way they become a competition to the media, and this may violate the right of citizens to information.

The domestic media for this event had received a proper invitation from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. We remind you that this is not the first such case at the Skopje airport, where some time ago at an event related to the arrival of refugees from Afghanistan, government officials recorded videos and broadcast them on social networks while journalists were distanced and prevented from doing their job.