From The Guardian T&T

The Media Association of T&T (MATT) has called on the T&T Police Service to swiftly investigate threats of murder, physical assault, nuisance legal action and cyber bullying against journalists.

The association also called on State-owned media house CNMG to end slanderous and defamatory contributions from callers and immediately effect responsible moderating on-air by its presenters.

This follows verbal attacks online and threats of physical attacks by political party supporters toward journalists.

While MATT focussed mainly on journalists who had made police reports on the threats, many other journalists receive threats and harassment from political party supporters regularly.

In a statement yesterday, the MATT executive expressed solidarity with journalists who had been and continued to be subjected to intimidation, slander, defamation and bullying in broadcast media and on social media.

“MATT takes note of the numerous journalists from various media houses targeted for vicious attacks on-air and online.

We are deeply concerned about ongoing threats to free and open media coverage, including threats of murder, physical assault, cyber bullying and nuisance legal action against journalists that unduly limit their freedom of expression, particularly during the election season.”

MATT made three requests of the Police Service, including swiftly investigating the report made by Express investigative journalist Denyse Renne on June 15, 2015, and the threat reported by Express investigative journalist Asha Javeed in October 2013 and two serious reports of cyber attacks filed also by Javeed this year.

The association also called on the police to outline its policing policy on cyber bullying which it said had become a perilous, far-reaching threat to Trinidad and Tobago’s democratic landscape.

“Protecting freedom of expression, preventing attacks on working journalists by holding political parties and leaders to account and promoting open debate by all citizens is also the responsibility of the TTPS. The TTPS must promptly investigate such attacks when they do occur and bring those responsible to justice.

MATT said it recognised that incumbent governments benefitted from disproportionate media coverage, from their control of state-owned media houses and often from of their wider economic reach.

“This places an additional duty of care on State-owned media to act responsibly.

MATT insists that Government and leaders of all political parties must make clear their zero tolerance for supporters who slander, defame and threaten journalists. Political parties cannot continue to remain silent while attacks against journalists are launched and sustained in their name.”
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For more on this story go to: http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-06-19/matt-wants-swift-probe-attacks-against-journalists

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