[ad_1]
Germany is facing a massive nationwide media blockade led by farmers who passionately oppose the government’s proposed cuts to subsidies. Farmers criticized inappropriate representation of their cause in the media and blocked access to media facilities to disrupt newspaper deliveries during the hours-long protest. Since early February, farmers have targeted at least three media companies and two publishing companies across the country. The International Federation of Journalists and the European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) calls for calm dialogue between farmers and the media and deplores that disruption of newspaper deliveries is being used as a means of protest.
“Attacks on media outlets among protesting farmers have become more targeted and garnered more support.” Said andrea ross, Vice-President of the Bavarian Association of Journalists and member of the EFJ Steering Committee.According to the German Journalists Union ver.di “The message from the blockers is clear: Their goal is to prevent independent reporting.”
The first of a series of blockades occurred on February 2, 2024, when 70 demonstrators blocked all three entrances to the 4Press press distribution center in Hamburg-Larstedt. Two and a half hours later, the newspaper delivery truck resumed its deliveries. The Hamburger Abendblat was among the newspapers published several hours late.
The premises of the radio and television station of the North German Radio (NDR) have been sealed off twice this month. On February 17th, Rokstedt NDR was the center of a 24-hour action by 150 demonstrators, including farmers, artisans and small businesses, while on February 5th the Hannover NDR had 60 demonstrators. . On the same day, 400 protesters demonstrated in front of the Allgäuer Zeitung (Arizona) building in Kempten, and around 175 tractors deliberately disrupted the on-time delivery of newspapers.
“It’s perfectly legitimate to criticize reporting and argue with journalists. But stonewalling is not an attempt at conversation, but rather an organized refusal to have conversation.” declared German Journalists Association (DJV).
On February 9, the media blockade was further tightened. After a six-hour demonstration by 120 farmers in front of the farm. axel springer verlag Newspapers from publishers Hamburger Abendblat, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) were delivered too slowly to be distributed in the morning.
[ad_2]
Source link
