Romania’s Union of Professional Pressmen is condemning media blackmail practiced by some journalists in order to win material, social or political gains, amidst the commencement of criminal investigations in connection with the Gazeta Media Trust, which is standing accused of the setting up of a crime ring and of continual blackmail.
In a press release issued on Friday, UZP is calling on all media organisations to publicly condemn the violations by journalists of their code of conduct, urging them to team up to the common interest of journalists and the public.
UZP is also voicing concern that the journalist’s trade will become an object of public disgrace if the court process proves the accusations true, although not all the investigated persons are journalists and none of them is a member of the UZP.
UZP is also accusing the lack of clear regulations concerning the media enterprise, the lack of strong employers’ associations in this field, professional bodies and trade unions grouped together in federations on firm and fair statutory principles, that would hold mutual consultations and take decisions in consensus.
The media managers of the Gazeta Trust are standing accused of having blackmailed business people, politicians and public body managers in 2004 into concluding advertising agreements or else they would disclose compromising information in the publications of the trust.
ROMPRES
