[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Countries” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” border_style_all=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||1px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”5px” border_style_bottom=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/samsn.ifj.org\/SAPFR22-23\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/000_33B98XY-German-Chancellor-Olaf-Scholz-and-Bhutan-Prime-Minister-Lotay-Tshering-John-MACDOUGALL-AFP.jpg” title_text=”GERMANY-BHUTAN-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”MAL” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-29px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”caption” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”6671dcc6-349c-4400-ae04-612e8c6d39b3″ text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font_size=”39px” header_3_text_color=”#FF0000″ custom_margin=”-27px||||false|false” custom_padding=”31px||1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Bhutan\u2019s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hold a press conference in Berlin on March 23, 2023. Despite a lack of transparency from public institutions, Prime Minister Tshering has reiterated his commitment to freedom of information in Bhutan. Credit: John Macdougall \/ AFP\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”39px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”52px” width=”97.3%” min_height=”1217px” custom_margin=”-11px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
For journalists in Bhutan, access to information has never been as challenging as over the last few years. The shifting media landscape coupled with the high turnover of journalists is compounded by shrinking access to information, all of which is impacting news coverage and people\u2019s access to information.<\/p>\n
In April 2022, public institutions used the guise of a reformation process to begin stonewalling information, after two female foresters who spoke to the media were forced to retire by their parent agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. They had alleged that the ministry issued transfer orders based on favouritism and nepotism.<\/p>\n
The ministry\u00a0justified its actions on the grounds that the two foresters had breached Section 3.3.16.2 of the\u00a0Bhutan Civil Service Rules (BCSR), which restricts\u00a0civil servants\u00a0from\u00a0criticising\u00a0or undermining\u00a0government\u00a0policies, programs and actions in public and\/or\u00a0through\u00a0the media. The rules restrict civil servants from communicating, transmitting or posting hate messages or any content with the intent to defame a person or\u00a0government\u00a0agencies.<\/p>\n
In July 2022, the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), which is the central personnel agency of the government, introduced the Administrative Disciplinary Actions (RADA). RADA is now tasked with dealing with civil servants who disclose critical information to an unauthorised person, audience, platform or forum and those who use official information for personal gains. These are classified as major offences.<\/p>\n
The strict enforcement of these new rules has further discouraged civil servants and officials from talking to the media even when they are only sharing \u201cnecessary information to keep the public informed\u201d. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to talk to the media; there will be repercussions,\u201d one senior civil servant said.<\/p>\n
Another senior official\u00a0confirmed that the RCSC had tightened the law.\u00a0\u201cWe can never predict the consequences of talking to the media,\u201d\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Sonam Tshering, in an opinion piece in Kuensel, <\/em>stated that the action of compulsorily retiring\u00a0two foresters for merely speaking to the media and the Ministry issuing a notice barring employees from expressing themselves in the media, showed the extent to which public authorities were using indirect methods to silence or suppress public criticism.<\/p>\n Tshering also said that the curtailment of information from public institutions is on the rise. Following the RADA, the National Assembly came up with a rule prohibiting the media from interviewing members of parliament during session. This included taking photos of members of parliament that could be considered negative. \u201cThe institutions failed to realise that such measures are counterproductive and undemocratic and contribute significantly to the loss of confidence in these public institutions,\u201d Tshering wrote.<\/p>\n Article 7 (Section 2 and 3) of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech, opinion and expression, as well as the right to information. \u201cThese rights are guaranteed because the public institutions are accountable to the public,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n A journalist working for a private newspaper said that his sources among civil servants were not as open as they used to be. \u201cIt takes a long time to get information and permissions from the heads of agencies and ministries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In 2022, the\u00a0National Referral Hospital in Thimphu issued a notification cautioning civil servants\u00a0about sharing\u00a0information with the media without following due process. Officials from RCSC said that it was common practice for any agency, both public and private, to expect its staff to abide by a code of conduct. \u201cThe code of conduct and values reflected in the BCSR 2018 is to ensure integrity, discipline, accountability and effectiveness of the civil servants, which has been diminishing in recent years leading to systemic weakening of the\u00a0civil\u00a0service,\u201d they claimed.<\/p>\n A newspaper editor wrote in a column that government officials use or misuse provisions of the civil service rule to hide information and their lapses: \u201cTransparency is one of the pillars of good governance but\u00a0gagging the media has meant that\u00a0our officials are unaware of the good\u00a0governance\u00a0that they are trying to promote,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The piece went on to say that the Bhutanese media was not as mature or critical as other media in the region. Only a few journalists ask hard questions. When answers are delayed because of bureaucratic procedures or due to fear of repercussions, it does not help anyone. \u201cSocial media is thriving because citizens resort to it when they are restrained through rules,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Today, social media has become an alternative platform for information for many Bhutanese people. Since\u00a0access to information for mainstream media journalists is being limited, social media gives the possibility of a plurality of voices, which is critical for democracy.\u00a0People also rely on social media to break news and other\u00a0developments, although\u00a0the fact remains that it lacks editorial filters.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#e5e5e5″ divider_weight=”8px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”30%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_number_counter title=”Media Rights Violations” percent_sign=”off” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ title_font=”Oswald|300|||||||” title_line_height=”1.5em” number_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” number_text_color=”#939393″ number_font_size=”84px” width=”67.9%” min_height=”152px” custom_margin=”-19px||-3px|||” custom_padding=”||21px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_divider color=”#e5e5e5″ divider_weight=”8px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”30%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_number_counter title=”Killings” percent_sign=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”Oswald|300|||||||” title_line_height=”1.5em” number_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” number_text_color=”#FF0000″ number_font_size=”84px” width=”67.9%” min_height=”152px” custom_margin=”-19px||-3px|||” custom_padding=”||21px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_divider color=”#e5e5e5″ divider_weight=”8px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”30%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_number_counter title=”Arrests” percent_sign=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”Oswald|300|||||||” title_line_height=”1.5em” number_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” number_text_color=”#E09900″ number_font_size=”84px” width=”67.9%” min_height=”152px” custom_margin=”-19px||-3px|||” custom_padding=”||21px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_divider color=”#e5e5e5″ divider_weight=”8px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”30%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||213px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”13px||-14px|-25px||” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”38px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/samsn.ifj.org\/SAPFR22-23\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bhutan-news-Buthan-Media-Foundation-Business-Bhutan.jpg” alt=”Channel 13 cameraman tackled to ground by riot police Feb 19 protest.” title_text=”Bhutan news – Buthan Media Foundation – Business Bhutan” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-17px|||||” custom_padding=”|0px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”caption” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”6671dcc6-349c-4400-ae04-612e8c6d39b3″ text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font_size=”39px” header_3_text_color=”#FF0000″ custom_margin=”-27px||||false|false” custom_padding=”31px||1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Bjabcho Aumtsu Detshen, a parent and member of a community-based organisation empowering single mothers through mushroom farming, is interviewed on July 21, 2022. As more and more journalists, media workers and everyday Bhutanese leave the country, newsrooms are facing a staffing crisis as outlets attempt to fill industry-wide vacancies. Credit: Bhutan Media Foundation\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”text” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”1716.7px” custom_margin=”|auto|1px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”3px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”52px” width=”97.3%” min_height=”1217px” custom_margin=”||-66px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also come up with a model code controlling public servants, which means they could face disciplinary action or criminal sanctions if they share official information, including non-confidential information, without authorisation.<\/p>\n On December 30, 2022, the ACC issued an executive order requiring public agencies to develop and implement an agency-specific code of conduct based on the commission\u2019s model public service code of conduct. The ACC model, which came into force on December 31, 2022, requires a public servant to maintain confidentiality regarding any matter, document, report and other information related to the official function that is in their knowledge. The ACC\u2019s code of conduct will be part of the employment terms and conditions of a public servant and any breach will result in disciplinary or criminal sanction.<\/p>\n ACC officials said that the model code is aimed at ensuring accessibility to official information and responsible public reporting through proper mechanisms. \u201cThe requirement of sharing information through authorised persons is to ensure quality reporting with accurate, authentic, and complete information for meaningful civic engagement in the governance system,\u201d ACC Commissioner Jamtsho said. \u201cAny engagement based on inaccurate, false, and incomplete information would only promote mistrust and compromise the rule of law and public order.\u201d<\/p>\n In other countries, he said, access to official information is regulated by law on the citizen\u2019s right to information and secrecy. \u201cThere is no such law in Bhutan.\u201d<\/p>\n The commissioner said the model code was not intended to impair the constitutional right to freedom of speech. \u201cIt is, rather, intended to complement the duty to exercise freedom of speech responsibly,\u201d he said. \u201cNo constitutional rights are absolute. All the fundamental rights are accorded with limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n However, such a code coming from a constitutional office mandated to promote transparency and accountability has caused concern. Media professionals say this worrying trend violates the right to freedom of speech, opinion and expression as well as the right to information enshrined in the Constitution of Bhutan. Such a rule aggravates the already poor access to information, they say.<\/p>\n Tenzing Lamsang, the editor-in-chief of The Bhutanese,<\/em> said that the model code should not stop public agencies and officials from sharing public information. \u201cBe it any codes, regulations, or acts, if it is not in keeping with the Constitution, it is null and void. All of these should not be ultra vires to the Constitution,\u201d he told Kuensel<\/em>. \u201cThe right to information is not about state secrets, but about public information which is needed for the public,\u201d Lamsang said, adding that the government should share it since the media works to advance the public interest.<\/p>\n This would only impede journalists from covering investigative stories against corruption, he said. \u201cIf only authorised civil servants are allowed to talk, how will they expose corruption?\u201d<\/p>\n The editor of Business Bhutan,<\/em> Kinley Yonten, said such red tape and formalities are unhealthy for democracy and that media has a pivotal role to ensure that a democratic government upholds transparency, sincerity, and accountability. Strengthening free media will ultimately strengthen democracy and promote liberty, he added. \u201cIf democracy allows people to determine their own future, that choice or determination must be based on factual and accurate information.\u201d<\/p>\n Another senior journalist said that from now on, the media will struggle to perform its duties. \u201cSuch a rule would promote corruption, nepotism, and favouritism in the country with people disallowed to share information,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThis indirectly means that the system does not require media, and it is a really dangerous trend.\u201d<\/p>\n Deeply concerned that the people and agencies holding information or expertise are becoming increasingly cocooned, editors, publishers, the media community and the Journalists\u2019 Association of Bhutan (JAB) appealed to the Media Council of Bhutan to help facilitate better access to information from public institutions.<\/p>\n In their appeal letter, the group stated that access to information had become restricted by \u201cred tapism\u201d and bureaucracy, leading to journalists\u2019 inability to write stories of public interest with adequate clarity and depth. Now even getting basic information meant having to go through several layers of bureaucratic procedures.<\/p>\n The chairperson of the Bhutan Media Council, a statutory body set up by an act of Parliament in 2018, wrote to organisations such as the RCSC, the judiciary, the ACC, and the Office of the Attorney General urging the agencies to respect their mandates and protect freedom and independence of the media. \u201cWe would like to request the concerned agencies to kindly facilitate easy access to public information for the media so that they can play their role to inform and educate the people for our shared national goal of an informed citizenry,\u201d the letter stated.<\/p>\n \u201cWe share no misconception that any public information made accessible to the media is ultimately not for the media, but for the public,\u201d the Council\u2019s chair stated in the letter. \u201cThe media is a critical conduit. For all their limitations, the media share your good intentions for public service in the spirit of transparency and accountability stressed by His Majesty The King.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope that the concerned agencies will be in a position to support our media by granting freer access to public information\u2026On our part, we will be pleased to facilitate better communication between your institution or organisation and the media.\u201d<\/p>\n With recommendations from editors, JAB conducted a survey in August 2022 on access to information and its findings speak volumes about how difficult it is to get basic information today.<\/p>\n JAB asked journalists to rate various government agencies based on access to information. Of the 30 respondents, 24 said that access to information was worse than in previous years. The survey found that the Prime Minister\u2019s Office received the highest rating, while RCSC and Thimphu Municipal Office shared the worst.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ admin_label=”quote” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”544px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”13px||-14px|-25px||” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/samsn.ifj.org\/SAPFR22-23\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Bhutan.png” title_text=”Bhutan” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”38px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/samsn.ifj.org\/SAPFR22-23\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/000_32MD7EE-Bhutan-foreign-cadets-Arun-SANKAR-AFP-min-scaled.jpg” alt=”Channel 13 cameraman tackled to ground by riot police Feb 19 protest.” title_text=”000_32MD7EE Bhutan foreign cadets Arun SANKAR AFP-min” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-17px|||||” custom_padding=”|0px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”caption” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”6671dcc6-349c-4400-ae04-612e8c6d39b3″ text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font_size=”39px” header_3_text_color=”#FF0000″ custom_margin=”-27px||||false|false” custom_padding=”31px||1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Foreign cadets from Bhutan line up during their graduation ceremony at Chennai\u2019s Officers Training Academy on October 29, 2022 in India. While journalists in Bhutan have managed to largely avoid repression from law enforcement, access to information remains a pressing concerns for journalists and outlets. Credit: Arun Sankar \/ AFP<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”text” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”1156.4px” custom_margin=”|auto|1px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”52px” width=”97.3%” min_height=”961px” custom_padding=”||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The bureaucracy has been the biggest stumbling block for journalists in Bhutan. Interestingly, many media professionals agreed that the elected government is more open than bureaucrats when it comes to sharing information.<\/p>\n Any reporter or editor can call up the prime minister or his cabinet ministers at odd hours for information or clarifications. Such access is impossible in many countries.\u00a0Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering at a \u201cmeet-the-press\u201d session in January 2023 reiterated that public servants have a responsibility to share information with the media.<\/p>\n \u201cBy sharing the information with the media, they are not doing any favours, they are doing what they are mandated to do and they are doing what they are paid to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever we do, if it is for public benefit, the public must know. For this important information to go to the public, the media is the only thing that we can ride on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In 2022, Bhutan jumped to the 33rd place in the global press freedom rankings from the previous year\u2019s position of 65 out of 180 countries. The outside world is likely to see this ranking as a significant achievement for the tiny Himalayan kingdom with a population of just 700,000. However, despite the improvement in ranking, there continue to be many challenges that journalists in Bhutan face in terms of access to information.<\/p>\n There are seven newspapers\u00a0in the country today: Bhutan Times<\/em>, Bhutan Today<\/em>, Business Bhutan<\/em>, Gyalchi Sarshog<\/em>, Kuensel<\/em>, The Bhutanese<\/em>, and The Journalist<\/em>. The only television broadcasting station is Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS). There are five FM radio stations (BBS Radio, Centennial Radio, Kuzoo FM, Radio Valley, and Yiga Radio).<\/p>\n More than 80 journalists, including 20 from the print media, quit journalism in the past year. In a country the size of Bhutan, with a relatively small industry, the departures represent a significant blow. BBS alone lost 60 employees with news reporters, producers, camerapersons, and editors resigning from their jobs. BBS\u2019 chief executive officer, Kaka Tshering, said that the management is recruiting to endeavour to fill the human resource gap.<\/p>\n A total of 12 newsroom employees, both new recruits and experienced journalists, resigned from Kuensel<\/em> in the past 12 months also.<\/p>\n Business Bhutan<\/em>\u2019s editor Ugyen Tenzin said that the number of journalists leaving Bhutan is higher than ever before. Another newspaper editor said that that many are choosing to leave for better opportunities. \u201cReporters look for better pay and a good working environment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Today, newsrooms are stretched to their limits with only a few seniors or experienced journalists, and new recruits frequently leave the profession.<\/p>\n Low salaries, a poor working environment and difficulty in getting information are seen as factors influencing journalists to seek other careers or leave the profession for opportunities overseas.<\/p>\n Despite repeated editorials and stories on the lack of access to information published by different newspapers, the situation in Bhutan\u2019s media continues to deteriorate. For years, journalists have been encouraging the public to be active in media and to involve citizens to operationalise democracy, but the media itself is hitting a wall when attempting to access credible information.<\/p>\n Government institutions and ministries have a responsibility to appoint media spokespersons and conduct regular press briefings. They should also relax restrictions on official communications and set a timeline to share public information.<\/p>\n Past attempts to appoint spokespersons in ministries and organisations hasn\u2019t worked because they still had to seek permission to talk to the media. Since time and information is vital, the system of dissemination needs to be made more efficient and transparent.<\/p>\n Public institutions must uphold the supreme law of the country, the Constitution, which explicitly states that power belongs to the people and not to the authorities. The media is merely an information facilitator, and citizens use such verified information to hold the government accountable.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ admin_label=”quote” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”13px||-14px|-25px||” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”88px||156px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”13px||-14px|-25px||” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” link_option_url_new_window=”on” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\nThe shifting media landscape coupled with the high turnover of journalists is compounded by shrinking access to information, all of which is impacting news coverage and people\u2019s access to information.<\/span><\/h2>\n
Codes that gag
<\/strong><\/h3>\nTransparency please<\/h3>\n
\u201cThe right to information is not about state secrets, but about public information which is needed for the public.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Tripping over red tape<\/h3>\n
Abandoning ship<\/h3>\n
The way forward<\/h3>\n
Any reporter or editor can call up the prime minister or his cabinet ministers at odd hours for information or clarifications. Such access is impossible in many countries.<\/span><\/h2>\n
Low salaries, a poor working environment and difficulty in getting information are seen as factors influencing journalists to seek other careers or leave the profession for opportunities overseas.<\/span><\/h2>\n