Lusa - Business News - Cabo Verde: People should reflect on drop in press freedom index - president

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Lusa - Business News - Cabo Verde: People should reflect on drop in press freedom index - president

Praia, May.3,2024(Lusa) - Cabo Verde's president said on Friday that the country's drop in the press freedom index of the international organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) should prompt everyone to reflect.
"Today's news tells us that Cabo Verde has dropped eight places in the press freedom 'ranking': may this ranking serve as a stimulus for reflection on our responsibilities as a state, media organisations, journalists, civil society, citizens," said José Maria Neves. The country's president was invited by the Cabo Verde Journalists' Trade Union Association (AJOC) to a session to mark World Press Freedom Day.
In his speech, the head of state called for a commitment "to the quality of the journalism that is done so that 'non-news' doesn't overwhelm news, which is based on facts," he said.
In the face of "an increasingly complex and diverse society", he also advocated "greater specialisation of media professionals" and called for "more investigative journalism, even allowing for the difficulties that may arise along the way".
Journalism could help solve crimes and clarify recurring accusations of "vote-buying" in elections, he said.
The suggestion was made in a year when Cabo Verde will be holding local elections.
The Cabo Verde Journalists Association (AJOC) is calling for a debate on the country's "very worrying" drop in the annual press freedom index.
"We understand that it's a very worrying drop, it's eight places, but it's also an incentive for us to reflect together," including journalists and the state, "in a dispassionate debate about what we should do to reverse this drop," said the head of Ajoc, Geremias Furtado.
Cabo Verde dropped to 41st place (33rd in 2023), worsening its absolute score.
Like the RSF report, the leader of AJOC said that the drop was due to political pressure, the composition of the independent public broadcaster, the choice of directors of public organisations, self-censorship and attacks on journalists on social media.
The document also points to a "culture of secrecy" and restrictions by the state on access to information of public interest.
Other difficulties are associated with insularity: on the one hand, "the small size of the islands tends to hinder the development of investigative journalism", with journalists avoiding "covering issues that involve one of their acquaintances", and, on the other, the advertising market is restricted and hinders the growth of the sector.
"The report says it all. Now it's time to stop, think and see what everyone can do to combat these situations that end up undermining and damaging press freedom in Cabo Verde," he added.
To this end, he expressed his willingness to have a "frank conversation" with all those involved in press freedom in the archipelago.
"We believe that with full press freedom, our democracy will benefit and so will our country," the journalist emphasised.
The annual ranking drawn up by the organisation Reporters Without Borders is one of the most internationally renowned on the subject.
In the edition released today, Cabo Verde drops from position 33 to 41 out of 180 countries.
The report criticises the strong influence of the state in the sector, including the appointment of directors of public bodies, self-censorship and limitations on access to information.
Even so, compared to the panorama in West Africa, "the country stands out in the region for its favourable working environment for journalists".
LFO/AYLS // MLL/AYLS
Lusa

Agency : LUSA
Date : 2024-05-04 11:29:00

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