Hemm bżonn li l-awtoritajiet konċernati jipproteġu lill-ġurnalisti hekk kif huma importanti ferm għad-demokrazija ta’ kull pajjiż.
“The really worry for me is that our comined dedication, our commitment, our pursuit of truth, our very own profession is now so under attack we are now in danger of being extinguished altogether.”
Kien dan il-messaġġ tal-ġurnalista Alex Crawford waqt taħdita li saret b’mod virtwali – diskussjoni bl-isem ‘Journalism Under Attack’, li kienet organizzata mill-ghaqda Repubblika bhala parti mill-programm ta’ attivitajiet li qed isiru biex jitfakkar it-tielet anniversarju mill-assassinju tal-ġurnalista Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Tul il-karriera tagħha, Crawford – ġurnalista Ingliża ma’ Sky News – esperjenzat attakki, theddid, u sahansitra tortura. Lista ma tispiċċa qatt ta’ sitwazzjonijiet difficli fil-hidma gurnalistika taghha madwar id-dinja.
Alex Crawford faħħret id-determinazzjoni li Caruana Galizia uriet biex fl-aħħar mill-aħħar kixfet il-korruzzjoni tal-Gvern Laburista… tant li l-istess determinazzjoni u kuragg wasslu biex swewlha ħajjitha.
“As journalists, our loyalty should only be to the truth and that flies under no flag. It is our duty to call out govt hypocricy, and political greed or corruption. It is really a tough environment out there for journalists and we need the support of ordinary folk and also decision makers to protect us.”
Alex Crawford qalet li barra l-fatt li l-ġurnalisti ma jiġux rispettati tax-xogħol li jagħmlu, riċentament bdiet tintuża l-frażi ‘fake news’ biex wieħed jipprova jirredikola ix-xogħol tal-ġurnalisti; attakki minn dawk li ma joġgħobhomx dak li jkun qed jiġi ppublikat.
Crawford qalet li sfortunatament….dawn l-attakki ħafna drabi jsiru mill-Gvernijiet infushom minflok jaghtu il-protezzjoni meħtieġa lill-ġurnalisti.
