Journalists must have access to public information, union says
SSNM says government must restore regular, open communication after a public event where press questions were answered selectively
The Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers of North Macedonia (SSNM) said it is concerned by a developing practice in which the Government of North Macedonia systematically refuses to answer journalists' questions and restricts access to information of public interest. The union says the same pattern appeared at an event yesterday where the government PR representative answered questions selectively.
Union warns against turning briefings into monologues
According to SSNM, this trend undermines journalists' ability to verify information and risks turning press conferences into one-way statements instead of forums for questions and answers.
"It is the obligation of the Government to communicate transparently with the public. Silence must not become policy, and journalists' questions must not go unanswered," SSNM said in its statement.
The union also reminded that "The Government's PR service has a clear duty to answer every journalistic question — without the right to interpret whether the question 'deserves' an answer or not." SSNM stressed that decisions about which questions are relevant do not belong to government communications teams but to journalists, the media and the public.
SSNM called on government communication officials to treat journalists with respect and professionalism, and urged the Government of North Macedonia to promptly re-establish regular, open communication with the media, to ensure access to information of public interest and to uphold the standards of media freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
Photo: press material from the event
