AJM: The attitude of government officials is censorship

Arguments and improper attitude of administrative officials from the government protocol towards journalist teams, illogical rules that limit the entry of journalists and physically separate journalists from the cameramen from the scene of the event, ignorant attitude towards journalistic issues, selective issuing of accreditations to the media are some of the omissions and mistakes which the institutions have done during today’s celebration of the official commemoration in front of the grave of Goce Delchev in the church “St. Spas” in Skopje.

The event is still going on, which gives the organizers the opportunity to correct these mistakes and meet the journalists and videographers who are there because it is their professional obligation to report on the needs of the citizens and satisfy the public interest.

Sanction from the Government for the actions of the official is only the first step that should lead to a serious change in the attitude towards journalists and media workers. We point out that administrative officials do not have the authority to communicate with journalists in the field, and even brazenly order them where they should position themselves and how they should do their journalistic work.

We are also asking for an explanation from the Prime Minister’s office why journalists were banned from entering the building of “St. Spas”.

We warn that such arbitration decisions not only create bad practices for the organization of future events by the Government but also disturb the journalistic community and limit the journalists’ present access to events that are of public interest.