A newsstand in Beijing
In response to a report addressing the topic of world press freedoms, the Association of Portuguese and English Press in Macau (AIPIM) has issued a statement criticizing the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) for failing to consult with all associations that represent reporters in Macau before reaching a conclusion.
The report, compiled by the International Federation of Journalists, deemed press freedom in the greater China region (with the exception of Taiwan) to be on the decline.
“Press freedom in China, Hong Kong and Macau deteriorated further in 2015, as the Communist Party of China used every means at its disposal to control the media,” read the IFJ China Press Freedom report.
“Propaganda, censorship, surveillance, intimidation, detention, brutality and attacks and televised ‘confessions’ have become go-to tools for the government as they tighten their grip on the media and the press in 2015,” the report continued.
The IFJ explained declining press freedoms by making reference to the recent case of the Hong Kong missing booksellers, which they deemed “a significant case with implications for all media.”
It also forecasted the world press freedom outlook for 2016 in mainland China as “even worse.”
But a statement issued by AIPIM said that it regretted the fact that the federation had not consulted all of the associations that represent journalists in Macau.
AIPIM added that they had applied to join the federation in 2011 but had not been successful. According to the association, their application is “still pending.” Staff reporter
only 1 in 10 killings are investigated
Over the last 25 years at least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed, the IFJ has revealed in the report, adding that many of those responsible for the deaths continue to act with impunity. According to the AP, the report said that only one in ten killings is investigated. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said in an interview that “the last ten years were the most dangerous.” 2006 was reported as being the worst year since the IFJ began recording the killings of reporters; a total of 155 reporters were killed that year.
Congratulations to the AIPIM for this. I am a member of the press in Macau (and of the AIPIM) and no pressure has ever been brought to bear on our media company by either of the mainland or Macau governments. We’ve been prepared for it, but it’s never happened. So, at least for Macau, in the experience of our media company, the IFJ report is wrong.