OSCE’s Mission in Skopje in partnership with the Syndicate of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) promoted today at a press conference the free phone line 0800-11-011 зto help journalists in case of threats, attacks, and violence.
The free phone line will function 24/7 and will provide help and support to journalists and media workers in case of threats both verbal and physical attacks, online harassment, blackmail and other forms of endangerment.
The telephone operator will provide advice for journalists and media workers how to act in certain specific situations by informing about the mechanisms of action that they will have at their disposal.
“An attack on a journalist is an attack on democracy. The threats often lead to self-censorship, they limit the space for a flow of ideas and opinions. In its all-encompassing approach towards security, OSCE is working towards securing conditions for media to work freely and the journalists could do their work unobtrusively and safely – without fear of intimidation and threats,” said the Deputy- Head of OSCE’s Mission to Skopje, Jeff Goldstein.
The Acting President of SSNM, Zvezdan Georgievski also said that high-quality journalism isn’t possible without the existence of conditions that will provide safe work for journalists and media workers.
“It is of key importance that our collegues are provided with help whenever they face with any kind of violence”, said Georgievski.
During the press conference, the OSCE Mission donated vests and protection hats for reporters that are members of the Association of Journalists (ZNM).
