MMC condemns unsubstantiated statements against journalists
MMC urged journalists to work responsibly within the laws and regulations and the ethical standards and principles of the media.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
Maldives Media Council (MMC) on Monday condemned unsubstantiated allegations being made against journalists.
The Democrats and the opposition PPM-PNC coalition held a press conference on Sunday, where they accused journalists of corruption and government influence instead of answering their questions directly.
The MMC on Monday issued a press release condemning the increasing number of complaints received by the council about false accusations against journalists at press conferences and attempts to undermine the trust in journalists on various platforms.
The MMC said that although freedom of the press is a constitutional right, the agency has recently noticed attempts to undermine the trust in journalists on various platforms and making unsubstantiated allegations against journalists.
The statement said:
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Journalists receive many complaints of injuries and threats
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The most common complaint is that false accusations are made against journalists at press conferences
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Attempts to undermine the trust of responsible journalists are harmful to the entire field of journalism
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Defaming individual journalists and making unsubstantiated accusations is also an obstacle to media freedom
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This is also an obstacle to ensuring accountability of the government and others
“We call on all parties to stop making unsubstantiated statements about journalists and insulting and accusing journalists,” the statement read.
In the statement, the MMC urged journalists to work responsibly within the laws and regulations and the ethical standards and principles of the media.
