Self Censorship in Hungary

2 The FreePr Edition:ss September 2012 2 3 4 5 Citizens’ initiative: Can journalism Journalism Iceland a safe We demand deter fraud? and Europe: haven for free media love or hate? information

European investigative journalism still substandard

Despite the fact that the euro crisis has there is hardly any international investiga- tion of legislation on open governance. In- European investi- now been rumbling on for years, investi- tive journalism covering the implementa- vestigative journalism that transcends na- gative journalism into fraud, misma- tion of European policy or inappropriate tional borders can help to create more gative journalism, nagement and corruption with Europe- allocations of EU funds. transparent decision-making, improved ac- an taxpayers’ money remains low on the cess to documentation and increased uni- thanks to media’s agenda. This is according to the “The excuse given by the media and journa- formity of European data. study ‘Deterrence of fraud with EU lists is that they don’t see these European American money funds through investigative journa- stories. They don’t have the knowledge, the European institutions also need to make lism’, to be presented in the European data is hidden, there is no money, no time greater efforts to protect whistle-blowers “European investigative journalism Parliament in early October. and they say their readers just aren’t inte- and journalistic sources. They need to does exist and many are prepared to rested,” says Smit. However, she argues that guard press freedom and diversity more ef- invest time and money in compli Dutch investigative journalist Margo Smit this kind of investigative journalism fectively. Europe can also assist by provi- cated investigative projects. But coordinated the study for the European should be much more of a priority in view ding financial support for international these projects are largely financed Parliament antifraud committee. of the current European crisis. cooperation between journalists. Smit: “If by American money,” says Ides Smit and her fellow researchers argue that For their part, European institutions and you ensure that there are sufficient fire- Debruyne, director of the Pascal civil-society organizations and the media politicians should face greater pressure to walls to guarantee independent reporting, Decroos Fund for Investigative are essential in order to create a climate provide proper answers to the critical ques- the EU can play a useful role in promoting Journalism (see page 3). that discourages fraud and corruption and tions posed by journalists and citizens. European investigative journalism.” stimulates good governance. Despite this, There needs to be more stringent applica- (See the interview with Smit on page 3.)

nomic crisis and the dra- matic erosion of adver tising revenues. No Hungarian media business can now escape political meddling. And anyway, there are few that weren’t set up to serve a set of political interests in the first place. Today, the Hungari- an government can enact a new law solely to gag a radio station that it finds irksome. And it will stop at nothing to choke the advertising revenue of publications it doesn’t like.

Only large, foreign-owned media businesses could re- sist the pressure. If they wanted to. But of course they did not invest in Hungary because of an al- Greens/EFA MEPs protest against Hungary’s media law in the European Parliament in the presence of Prime Minister Orbán © European Union 2011 PE-EP truistic belief in the value of Hungarian media pluralism. They came for pro- Márton Gergely, journalist of Népszabadság (for now...) od of perhaps irrevocably fits. However, this aim be- entrenched bitter political comes unacceptable when rivalry. these businesses go against the values of their Self censorship in Hungary Then followed the media own, democratic home na- law which was set in place tions and adjust so readily When I was asked to write about press freedom in cated. The political elite circulation of rival publica- by prime minister Viktor to the way of doing busi- Hungary, I believed the paper I work for was owned by continues to feel at ease in tions. Orbán and his government. ness in Eastern Europe. a foreign publisher with considerable economic clout a system inherited from Finally, there was the eco- Soon there will be no mo- and long-term plans for its Hungarian holding. Today Communist times, in Part of the problem is that ney left for quality journa- I know that the paper is for sale. which the press works toge- the older generation of lism. Investigative journa- ther with those in power, Hungarian journalists, lism is dead, because A foundation set up by the It isn’t only the justly usually in alliance with a those in a position of aut- nobody dares risk the socialist party MSZP could much-criticized new Hun- party. A system where the hority within the professi- lawsuits. Hungary has tur- end up as its majority stake- garian press law that gets press parrots the party’s po- on, believe that it is right ned inward. The Hungari- holder. There are four poli- in the way of media plura- litical goals and prepares and desirable that parties an government’s passing tical dailies in Hungary, lism in the country. In fact, public opinion to be recep- and publications should of the media law, in the and only this one remains journalists work in fear tive to decisions already ta- cooperate. They believe process subjecting itself to in the hands of a genuine regardless of any threat of ken. This is typical of Hun- there are things best left much criticism from the media investor and thus co- political meddling and edi- garian parties. They even unwritten, and things that international community, mes under some form of tors, unbidden, tailor their believe this is the true pur- must remain on the agen- was rather pointless. The- protection from political news coverage to what they pose of the press. In their da long after they cease to re was no need for a interference. Barring a mi- perceive as being the de- view press freedom is when be relevant. The Hungari- muzzle. The Hungarian racle, in just a few weeks mands of the state. all parties have a mouth- an press was already deplo- press is a clever dog and this will no longer be the In recent years Hungary’s piece, and the goal of com- rably weakened when it had already learned to case. free press has slowly suffo- petition is to restrict the entered this current peri- Márton Gergely heel without a leash. 2 TheFreePress – September 2012 Make Europe more transparent

and citizens will be cam- how much suffering in fa- lists may claim, Brussels paigning to collect a milli- milies in southern Europe and Europe belong to us all. on signatures. Their aim is could have been prevented The euro crisis also makes to convince the European if there had been more cri- it painfully clear how inter- Commission to promote tical reporting in those dependent we really are. media pluralism. years? We share common interests with 500 million The euro crisis has given a We will never know the European citizens. One of boost to reporting on Euro- answer to that, but this these interests is a need for pe and the European deba- example underlines the good information. Abraham te. This is very much nee- need for rigorous repor- Lincoln once said: “I am a ded. The response to the ting on Europe. For the ac- firm believer in the people. crisis is taking place in the tive use of transparency If given the truth, they can twilight zone between Eu- laws to dig out informati- be depended upon to meet ropean and national com- on. For persistent investi- any national crisis. The petences. National govern- gation to scrutinize decisi- great point is to bring them ments are the key players on-making. At a time when the real facts.” here and prefer to negoti- the supervision of budgets ate behind closed doors. and banks is being shifted We hope that the informa- This gives them every op- to a European level, inves- tion in this newspaper portunity to shift responsi- tigative journalism also helps to bring out those bility onto Brussels or other needs to go beyond natio- facts. From now on we leave member states. But the nal borders. This is one of the making of newspapers good news is that there are the key findings from a to you, the journalists. also critical journalists able study commissioned by Judith Sargentini Bart Staes to penetrate the smoke and the antifraud committee mirrors. of the European Parlia- Bart Staes & Judith Sargentini, The euro crisis is also a crisis of confidence in the concern for politicians too, ment, initiated by the Eu- Members of the European European Union. Now, more than ever before, there is including European politi- It is tempting to suggest ropean Greens. Parliament for Groen and a need for good governance and transparent decision- cians. If journalists feel that this vigilance from the Contrary to what the popu- GroenLinks making. This calls for a watchdog that barks at any compelled to echo the press on European decisi- mismanagement of policy, abuse of power, conflict of words of those in power, on-making has been a long interest, clientelism or corruption. Europe itself will also suf- time coming. Where was it fer. This has already happe- in 2005, when the Europe- Parliamentarians have a and downright lies of popu- ned in Italy. It was partly an Commission, concerned TheFreePress is published by role to play in this, as have list Europhobes give citi- thanks to his hold on the about the Greeks fiddling Groen en GroenLinks Europa NGOs, whistle-blowers, om- zens the real facts on what media, that Prime Minister the figures, called for incre- Rue Wiertz 60 budsmen and the courts. is actually at stake in Brus- Berlusconi maintained po- ased powers for its statisti- Brussels But none of these can ope- sels. Strong journalism wer for so long. Meanwhile, cal office Eurostat? Wit- europa@groenlinks.nl rate effectively without the about the EU can achieve he dragged the country to hout any fuss national most important watchdog: that. the edge of the economic governments rejected the strong and independent precipice, seriously jeopar- idea. They did not want the media. Journalists with And this is where we face a dizing the euro. eyes of Europe spying on enough knowledge and problem, both at the Euro- their own statistical offi- time to doggedly pursue pean and the national le- Experiences in Italy, and at- ces. The result was that suc- decision-making in Brus- vel: the diversity and inde- tacks on press freedom in cessive Greek governments sels are an indispensable pendence of the media countries such as Hungary, continued their creative ac- part of a healthy European have been on the decline have led to a European citi- counting until 2009. Its re- democracy. Neither the for many years. Journalists zens’ initiative for a more velation paved the way for propaganda of the Euro themselves have highligh- diverse media. From Sep- the euro crisis. How many philes, nor the half-truths ted this issue. It should be a tember, NGOs, journalists billions in emergency aid,

European citizens in call for free and diverse media

The European Union must improve its was and continues to be reluctant to get its efforts to strengthen media pluralism fingers burned. “It really is a scandal that in Europe. This is the call made in a new the Commission has so far refused to take European citizens’ initiative to be laun- action, for example by using the Charter of ched in September. In order to be suc- Fundamental Rights that has been binding cessful, at least one million signatures for European institutions since the Lisbon will need to be collected. Treaty,” says Marselli.

“We need strong and independent media According to Article 11 of this Charter of in order to monitor the powers that be, at Fundamental Rights, ‘the freedom and plu- national and European level. But according ralism of the media shall be respected’. to most assessments, the state of media This is also the legal basis behind the citi- freedom and diversity in Europe is worse- European Commission must take action to about European citizenship. We need to zens’ initiative drawn up by professors Peg- ning,” says Lorenzo Marsilli of ‘European meet the wishes of the signatories. make it clear to everyone that media diver- gy Valcke from the University of Leuven Alternatives’. “Sadly, European institutions sity is essential for society to function pro- and Roberto Mastroianni from Naples Uni- have so far said little about this develop- The group behind the initiative consists of perly,” says Marsilli. versity. ment, let alone take action in response.” media organizations, including Stichting Ultimately, those behind the initiative aim Democratie en Media, Alliance Internatio- According to the organizers, the European to force the European Commission to draft This is why last summer a group of Euro- nale des Journalistes, and human rights Commission is taking refuge behind the legislation to harmonize the rules on me- pean organisations submitted a European organizations, such as the Open Society argument that it has no powers in this dia concentration, combat conflicts of inte- citizens’ initiative to the European Com- Foundation and European Alternatives. area. This allowed the Italian Prime Minis- rests and guarantee transparency and di- mission. Starting in September, they will “This campaign also provides a different ter Silvio Berlusconi to control large parts versity. “This is an essential step to ensure begin campaigning in order to collect a perspective on Europe. Ultimately, the Eu- of the public and private media until his the internal market operates properly and million signatures from at least seven ropean Union is about more than just fi- resignation in 2011, despite the criticism of to protect the fundamental rights of citi- member states. If they are successful, the nancial regulations and austerity. It is the European Parliament. The Commission zens,” says Marsilli. TheFreePress – September 2012 3

European investigative “It would be wonderful journalism is the poor relation if journalism could By Ides Debruyne, Co-founder Journalismfund.eu and Director Pascal Decroos Fund for Investigative Journalism prevent fraud” In recent decades, the European Union has grown into a powerful political organizati- on. The fact that this has happened silently A voyage of discovery through the European Union to is less the fault of the European institutions explore the current state of investigative journalism. A and more the result of disinterest on the search for answers to the question of whether robust, part of the European media. For several rea- cross-border investigative journalism into fraud, mis sons, they do not deem it necessary to pro- management or human error in the spending of European vide citizens with detailed information or to money, can contribute to improved European governance. scrutinize European politicians. New organi- During the last six months, this journey became a full- zations attempting to respond to this demo- time occupation for investigative journalist Margo Smit cratic deficit, have been forced to look be- and six of her colleagues. yond Europe for their funding. The classic business model no longer works The idea for the study came them were interested in the in journalism. Advertising revenues and indi- about after Bart Staes, Green subject and keen to find out vidual sales are declining. New media are Member of the European Par- about the state of investigative eating into part of the business. And the liament and deputy chair- journalism in Europe. But my Europe story does not fit within the com- man of the antifraud com- question as to what they them- mercial business model. As the media slash mittee, heard about the fate selves are doing in that area their budgets, European correspondents are of Slovakian TV journalist was met with a long period of heading home. Martina Kubaniova. She was silence, usually followed by The importance that a newspaper attaches reporting on the financial very little. There is a consis- to a subject can be gauged by the number of mismanagement of Europe- tent line in the explanation staff it deploys on the subject. A European an social funds and the invol- given for this: they don’t see football championship will get plenty of vement of politicians. It en- these European stories, they coverage and there is a whole battery of ded up costing her her job don’t have the knowledge, the journalists covering national and regional with the public broadcasting data is hidden, there is no mo- politics. But many editorial teams hardly company. ney, no time and readers have a Europe desk. This is strange, to say aren’t interested...The last of the least. According to those in marketing Were you shocked or pleasant- these reasons is very much and advertising, readers are not interested in ly surprised by the state of open to question, because we European politics. The information in a free investigative journalism into simply don’t know! If you media market is also being filtered for eco- European affairs? don’t offer people this kind of nomic reasons. Cheaper news takes prece- Smit: “I definitely wasn’t journalism, it is impossible to dence. More expensive complicated news, pleasantly surprised. To be know whether they are intere- analysis and in-depth coverage, are not part honest, I had low expectati- sted in it or not. In the UK, of the mass media’s core business. Invest- ons. For a variety of reasons, there is a great appetite for ments in people who engage in investigative there is a very mixed picture stories about Europe, al journalism would seem to be as rare as pen- across the European member though most of these have a guins in the Sahara. states when it comes to inves- strong Eurosceptic slant.” We urgently need to find a way of ensuring tigative journalism in gene- that analysis and investigative journalism on ral and particularly on the There is very little cross-bor- Europe can thrive. Like education, journa- subject of Europe.” der investigative journalism lism is a public good. In some quarters, jour- in Europe. Why is this? nalists are taking independent action. The Did you notice any rift “It hardly ever happens, be- Margo Smit online publication Mediapart.fr in France is between northern and sou- cause journalists don’t meet a good example. Journalists are seeking out thern Europe, as in the deba- each other and there is insuf- French online newspaper Me- Does investigative journalism new types of funding. Without additional te on the Euro crisis? ficient data available to com- diapart receives government help to prevent fraud and funding, few media, if any, are likely to suc- “No. Some countries have a pare countries with each support but is one of its big- corruption? ceed in establishing a European investigative long tradition of investigative other. Where the data is avai- gest critics.” “Ideally, it can have an im- journalism project. Remarkably, this additio- journalism, which is totally lable, as is the case for the dis- pact, although perhaps not nal support comes from the United States. lacking in other countries. tribution of agricultural sub- So European institutions directly. People who wish to The European Fund for Investigative Journa- The UK has this kind of tradi- sidies on farmsubsidy.org, should welcome investigative perpetrate wrongdoing, will lism and Scoop are journalist organizations tion and in Bulgaria there are journalists do find each journalism on Europe? always do so. It is still usually committed to cross-border European investi- many excellent in-depth arti- other! At the moment, this “Without a doubt, because it a case of retrospective repor- gative journalism. Both have been forced to cles. Broadly speaking, there kind of cross-border coopera- can contribute to improved ting. However, monitoring by turn to the United States for much of their are three factors that deter- tion is based far too much on governance. This may be awk- the media can contribute to a funding. The American ‘Open Society Foun- mine whether or not good in- coincidental and individual ward for public administra- climate that combats fraud dations’ of billionaire George Soros are sup- vestigative journalism exists initiatives. European insti tors, but as they say, ‘if you more effectively. It would be porting both projects. in a country. Determination: tutions can encourage this can’t stand the heat, stay out wonderful if that could hap- Neither European governments nor Europe- it is all about individual jour- cooperation by providing of the kitchen.’ I did notice pen at the European level, an financiers understand that quality inves- nalists who are prepared to easy access to data.” that some European services but it will take some time. An tigative journalism can be of enormous be- invest in in-depth investi and institutions, such as the important aspect in this is for nefit to democracy. gations, often from a position Does the EU have a duty to antifraud office OLAF, really journalists to show that peo- in which they themselves are stimulate its own counter- want to provide greater open- ple cannot get away with vulnerable. The second is vailing power? ness, but at other levels, peo- fraud and that stolen taxpay- Prioritization: a willingness “Yes. As well as providing ple refused even to answer ers’ money is returned.” on the part of the media to say financial support to journa- the telephone.” ‘this is an important investi listic initiatives, the EU can gation or theme we should make data available, provi- invest in.’ Finally, there is ding citizens with better in- n Margot Smit is part-time director of the Dutch- Cooperation: journalists who formation through the me- Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists. The work together across borders. dia. This can serve as an research was commissioned by the European This is not something that ne- antidote to the increasing Parliament’s antifraud committee and coordinated cessarily comes naturally to lack of trust. Of course, the by the Flemish Pascal Decroos Fund, which en journalists, but it does achieve journalists themselves should courages investigative journalism. The final report, better results. Ultimately, the- take the initiative. Some say entitled ‘Deterrence of fraud with EU funds through se three factors are essential if that governments should not investigative journalism’, will be presented in the investigative journalism is to get involved, because infor- European Parliament in early October. be successful.” mation then quickly loses its n According to the European Court of Auditors, a total credibility. But personally, I of € 4.4 billion, 3.7% of all EU funds, was spent Were the journalists, media believe that if you ensure that improperly in 2010. It points out that much of this managers and policymakers there are sufficient firewalls does not involve fraud, but rather unintended surprised when you arrived to guarantee independent re- errors. In 2011, detected fraud reached almost to see them? porting, the EU can play a € 300 million. “Yes, very surprised. Most of useful role. For example, the Ides Debruyne 4 TheFreePress – September 2012 Citizens deserve better on EU transparency By Brigitte Alfter, Freelance journalist

In the ongoing fight for more transparency in the Eu- between the three instituti- ves from their colleagues in ropean Union, the political debate seems stuck after ons of the EU on new laws. the Council of Ministers the Danish EU-presidency gave up on finding a soluti- This would be a big step to- who prefer to maintain a on for new access to documents rules, known as ‘regu- wards proactive openness great deal of secrecy. lation 1049/01’ among connoisseurs. within the EU. Because transparency is an However it does not solve essential ingredient of im- This Regulation on Access gotiations and was not wil- the problem of the stran- proving governance at EU to Documents, which came ling to try to find real com- ded ‘1049/01’ reform linge- level, some observers think into force in 2001, is the promises. Instead, it was ring in legislative nowhere- it is time to start from main legislation on trans- just requiring more restric- land. Furthermore it does scratch with a bill that ful- parency of EU decision-ma- tions and exceptions. The not solve the obstacles or fils the requirements of the king. It covers the Europe- European Parliament nego- even obstructions to trans- Lisbon Treaty. Brigitte Alfter © Thomas Tolstrup an Commission as well as tiating team, led by the Bri- parency, that journalists This would include best its agencies, the European tish draftsman Michael and citizens experience practices from open coun- be done by citizens and Citizens and especially Parliament and the Euro- Cashman, was the only every day: requests for ac- tries such as the Nordics journalists. Because trans- journalists have the task to pean Council. But the Lis- party ready to compromise, cess to documents that are and the United Kingdom, parency belongs to all of us. use the law intelligently bon Treaty of 2009 guaran- but not to take steps back- not answered, replies that as well as the experiences It’s not citizens against bu- and persistently. We have to tees access to documents ward.” are delayed and delayed from those who actually reaucrats, it’s about taking consider our requests care- of all institutions, thus again, flat denial that the use the legislation: NGOs, care of our democracy. fully and target them clear- ‘1049/01’ will have to be Jäätteenmäki argues that requested documents actu- lawyers and journalists. If citizens, NGOs, journa- ly – in respect for the updated. after the collapse of the ne- ally exist. The slow and po- The question is how the lists, lawyers, companies do workload that a decent and gotiations, the European tentially costly procedure European Parliament will use their right to freedom thorough answer may The political battle to an- Parliament should now go to complain also discoura- take up its role. Journalists of information, a practice bring to often understaffed chor this right to transpa- ahead with an own initia- ges citizens and time-pres- – on behalf of readers, liste- at government level will departments in the admi- rency is stuck in trenches. tive and introduce more sured journalists. ners and viewers – hope for evolve to obey by the trans- nistration. We have to be The Finnish MEP Anneli openness in the legislative “Citizens deserve better” as the Parliament to call upon parency rules. Court cases polite, clear and efficient Jäätteenmäki commented procedure. She suggests ac- Jäätteenmäki writes in her the Commission to write up or decisions by ombuds- in our contact with offici- on the lack of progress tions like making public all open letter. In May 2012 a new, acceptable draft for men and information com- als. Using our right is not made during the past votes in committee and ple- two other Nordics, the mi- the reform of ‘1049/01’ and missioners strengthen the an act of aggression – as it months: “The Danish Presi- nary meetings and publi- nisters of Justice of Sweden to include the relevant users respect for the public’s in- is considered in many dency lacked the will to shing the minutes of the and Finland, appealed to of the law in the process. terest to know what’s going countries without a traditi- push the revision forward coordinators meetings as find “true friends of trans- on. And numerous requests on of openness. It should be this spring. The European well as the documents parency” in a letter publis- Eurowobbing teach officials the habit of an act to defend the gene- Commission also kept its from the trialogue mee- hed on wobbing.eu. They Regardless of this new le- sharing information with ral interest. negative attitude in the ne- tings, the negotiations openly distanced themsel- gislation, there is work to the public. www.wobbing.eu

Europe and journalism: a love-hate relationship?

By Rob Heirbaut, EU correspondent of VRT deemed important enough to spend broadcasting time on. “Europe is important, but it does not war- pe should take. It was in the period after rant a news item.” With these words, an the French and Dutch No to the European Since then, the euro crisis has placed Euro- editor-in-chief brushed aside a suggestion Constitution. The future Belgian Prime Mi- pe (in the Netherlands, ‘Brussels’) high on made by my colleague. It was in 2007, in the nister was set to begin negotiations on a the political agenda. Should money be lo- run-up to the federal elections in Belgium. new treaty (which would later become the aned to bail out southern European coun- She had suggested staging a debate between Lisbon Treaty). A major handover of power tries? Does the European Commission have political leaders on the direction that Euro- to Europe was at stake, but this was not the right to criticize the indexation of sala- ries in Belgium or Dutch mortgage tax re- lief? Suddenly Europe has become a real issue with immediate impact: the euro crisis is bringing down governments and has become a key election theme. Journalists specializing on Europe are en- joying a heyday. When I found myself in the European bubble in Brussels in 2002, I was amazed by how little of what happened in this fascinating microcosm made its way into the mainstream media. Now, all TV channels have live coverage of every twist and turn in the euro crisis. On a daily basis, they cover the interest rates that member states have to pay and explain complicated concepts such as banking union and Euro- bonds. The euro crisis was caused by an error in the construction of the monetary Rob Heirbaut union, commentators write in concert.

Should we be happy now? Not completely. In any case, ‘Europe journalism’ does not European journalism is also struggling with really exist. We all report our own, quite its own construction errors and the euro different, stories about European summits. crisis is doing nothing to change that. The report by RAI in Italy will place a diffe- Newspapers continue to sack experienced rent emphasis on things than that by ZDF in European correspondents. Most Flemish Germany. There are very few cross-border newspapers do not even bother to send a media, let alone popular ones. journalist to a European summit. Why complain about the distance between Europe The euro crisis is forcing politicians to and its citizens if you think Brussels is al- transfer even more power to Europe in the ready too far away from Antwerp or Kob- future. A key issue is how this can be begem? Knowledge about how Europe achieved without undermining democracy. works is also still below par. Commentators For the media, who play an essential role in who still write that the European Parlia- democracy, it is high time for reflection too. ment has nothing to say are lagging several Is it not time for the fourth estate to come © European Union 2011 PE-EP decades behind. to terms with this new Europe? TheFreePress – September 2012 5

that I needed a very sound understanding “In the Netherlands of the law, so I undertook a legal trai- Italy: press freedom plays second a journalist is often ning.” “The law says that access to official docu- fiddle to private interests seen as the enemy” ments can be refused if there is the possibility of ‘disproportionate damage’. The By Stefano Corradino, Journalist RAI-Tre and director of Articolo 21 Last year, freelance journalist Brenno de average civil servant seems to think this Winter collided with the limits of press means that ‘if I don’t like it, I will not give What exactly does freedom of information mean? freedom. De Winter wrote a series of ar- it up.’ They deliberately delay decisions Broadly, it refers to the possibility for citizens, and ticles on the Dutch public transport sys- on releasing documents, for longer than therefore also newspapers and the media, to express tem’s ‘chipcard’, which revealed an easy is allowed by law, with the aim of disad- their own opinions, unconditionally, without manipu- way for members of the public to travel vantaging me as a journalist.” lation or censorship. for free. In the Netherlands, De Winter says, a Based on this definition, former premier Berlusconi The chipcard had already been criticised journalist is often seen as the enemy: “It we can argue that Italy is have been advantaged to for its lack of sufficient security precauti- is not uncommon for press officers to not a free country or, as the detriment of public TV ons but De Winter’s publications further threaten you. If you do not have your sto- most reliable international and local broadcasting. The undermined the credibility of the chip- ries approved before publishing, you run rankings suggest, only par- RAI (Radiotelevisione Itali- card system. Instead of dealing with the the risk of judicial retaliation. That is not tially. This lack of freedom ana) is subject to the fun- legitimate concerns, the card’s producer, legal, but it happens anyway. Even the po- is caused by a cancer deve- ding mechanisms of the Trans Link Systems, went on the attack lice in the streets are much wary of jour- loping at the heart of our government and the politi- Stefano Corradino and filed charges against De Winter. nalists. It frustrates me no end. They democratic system: con- cal parties, in other words should be asking how they can help you flicting interests. It is an nepotism. As the years have The new government’s ten- Ironically enough, we find De Winter on a do a better job, instead they keep pushing anomaly that remains un- passed large sums of mo- tative efforts to break with train: “Trans Link was unable to accept cameras away.” resolved to this day: it is ney have been paid to buy these practices are too that the facts were against them. The Not surprisingly, De Winter fully supports possible to take up public off newspapers and place weak and are doing little to chipcard’s flaws were clear from the be- the current initiative to adopt a new free- office and to use the power them at the service of the change the situation. This ginning but were completely ignored by dom of information bill. He advised Green and privileges it brings for financier. There have been is despite the fact that it is politicians and Trans Link. I have never Party representative Mariko Peters when one’s own private interests. several attempts to prevent now essential to repair the seen so much smugness gathered in a she was drafting the new law. According The reasons for distorted the public media from rules and principles of de- room. Rather than seeking to address to De Winter: “The Netherlands is lagging information are the lack of speaking out. They are seen mocracy: the openness, di- their mistakes, they chose to sue the mes- behind in a bad way. Peters’ proposal will any law to tackle conflicts as a dangerous threat, pre- versity and freedom of the senger.” The case would later be dis- bring the Netherlands back in line with of interests and Silvio Ber- cisely because of their free media. missed. other modern democracies. This is neces- lusconi’s rise to power. The and independent character. A law to tackle conflicts of sary repair work, nothing more. Transpa- consequences are indispu- Article 21 of the Italian interest and independent De Winter has made over a thousand free- rency and democracy have been structu- table: writers and journa- Constitution, guaranteeing regulation of public office, dom of information requests in the course rally undermined in the Netherlands by lists deemed persona non the irrevocable right to are the essential precondi- of his career as a journalist. “To find the almost all political parties. The Green grata have been driven out freedom of speech, has tions required in order to facts, you need government documents Party is one of the few that are truly de- of public radio broadcas- been infringed on multiple regain freedom of informa- but they are hard to come by. I realised fending the freedom of the press.” ting, the channels run by occasions. tion. Iceland: Hacking the Law for Freedom of

Information badly. Its strategic position land. That’s very exciting between Europe and Ame- for us. We need the added rica make Iceland an ideal revenues for rebuilding our Living in a country of extremes has its advantages. building block of the uni- ported the plans of IMMI place for an information economy. So we need good When you are used to dealing with powerful events verse. Still, the way copy- unanimously. Out of safe haven. Success will be laws.” like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, you should right protection and libel fourteen laws that IMMI determined by the econo- The success of IMMI also in- be better equipped to handle smaller problems, like laws work makes it almost identified that need to be mic successes as much as fluences the way McCarthy economic meltdowns. You learn to plan for such events impossible for journalists changed, two have already by the general vision, accor- feels about Iceland joining and you learn how you can use those events to make to do their jobs. The funda- been successfully changed. ding to McCarthy. “The the European Union, for things better. mental structure behind Two more are in the works laws in themselves are not which it is a candidate: “In- the flow of information and McCarthy expects to terribly exciting but a lot of terest in EU membership is That would explain how, parliament, which would lacks all balance. For win. “We do not always get enthusiam has been gene- around 50-50 here. People when Iceland found itself be completely ‘crowd example, there is no solid the attention we want,” he rated by people to store are worried about sharing caught up in the middle of sourced’, meaning everyo- scientific evidence that co- says. “But neither do we data in Iceland. Many start our natural resources – an economic hurricane in ne could participate; not pyright is actually useful. meet real opposition to our ups have become so wor- fish, mainly. Still, 60-70 per- 2008, not everybody started that it is taken seriously yet. Why do we have it then?” ideas.” ried about the legal situati- cent of our legislation is looking for shelter. Some McCarthy realises that to And the new parliament, It’s not hard to see why this on in the US and Europe coming from the US or Eu- decided the time was ripe change politics is to change elected after the economic is the case. Iceland needs that they have started mo- rope anyway. So personally, for some changes. They de- journalism. He was in- crisis, agrees. In 2010 it sup- new sources of income ving their servers to Ice I agree with a united Euro- cided to make Iceland the volved in the release of the pe. The EU has failed to de- world’s first true safe haven leaked ‘Collateral Murder’ liver so far, but the situati- for information. video. It shows in gruesome on is not unsalvageable. If “The economic collapse detail how a group of peo- we join, I hope we can bring opened the minds of the ple, including journalists, some accountability to the Icelandic people,” says gets killed by the US milita- EU, some transparency that Smári McCarthy, the long- ry forces, while walking has been missing. Europe is time hacker and anarchist down the streets of Bagh- lacking a comprehensive who finds himself heading dad. The video was released protection of freedom of the International Modern through WikiLeaks and led speech.” Media Institute, affectiona- to widespread uproar about “The four freedoms of the tely known as IMMI. “As a the US strategy in Iraq. For EU - the free flow of people, people, we are now much McCarthy, this event only goods, capital and services more willing to explore. confirmed the vital need - are all no good without The collapse of the banks for freedom of information. the free flow of informati- was partly caused by a com- “I want a less centralised, on. Yet protection of free plete lack of transparency. more free society. Pro- information in the current We are going to prevent tecting the internet is the treaties is based on a naive that from happening entry-point for that.” understanding of the way again.” So now McCarthy takes a the economy works. The EU McCarthy is one of the peo- very broad view: “No coun- needs to adopt the free ple responsible for staging try has ever approached in- flow of information as a what amounts to a mini-re- formation regulation in a fifth core principle. Then it volution in Icelandic poli- holistic way. Physicists will be time for Iceland to tics. He called for a shadow claim information is the Smári McCarthy, Executive Director International Modern Media Institute join.”