site.btaCouncil for Electronic Media Outraged by another Attempt to Encroach on Media Freedom

Sofia, January 13 (BTA) - The Council for Electronic Media (CEM) expresses its outrage at yet another attempt to encroach on media freedom in carrying out their public mission, the media regulator said in a statement regarding an interview on Nova TV.

After yesterday's unacceptable verbal and physical assault on reporters, the CEM once again called on politicians and the public to make every effort to comply with the rules of public speaking and behaviour towards journalists on national air.
 
The use of edifying and unreasonably sharp tone by politicians and representatives of political formations, as well as their desire to determine the type of issues and topics of journalists are infamous practices of the past, the position reads.
 
The CEM states that any attempt to demonstrate intolerance and obstruct the media's search for the truth does not contribute to society's expectations that democratic principles of freedom of speech will be respected.
    
The position comes in response to Continue the Change PR head Aleksandar Boychev calling the morning show hosts live on TV and yelling at them for the way they presented information about Parliament Chair Nikola Minchev's COVID status and test, and accusing them of spreading fake news. Minchev tested positive for COVID-19 following Monday's Consultative Council of National Security with President Radev, which forced many of the attending high-level state officials into quarantine.

MY/MT