The Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) has expressed concern over boycotts of certain media outlets by state institutions, political parties and other entities.
In a press release issued yesterday, the MJA stated it had received multiple complaints from media personnel regarding the issue. One such complaint alleged that private broadcaster RaajjeTV had been given exclusive access to interviews with the MDP following former President Nasheed’s recent trip abroad.
The MJA also highlighted the President’s Office’s apparent refusal to cooperate with private broadcaster Raajje TV. The organisation has claimed that these alleged media boycotts, which are perceived as being sympathetic to opposing political views, were becoming alarmingly common in the Maldives.
Speaking to Minivan News, MJA President Ahmed ‘Hiriga’ Zahir said that although the boycott issue had been present from the time multi-party politics was established in the Maldives, the problem had become a growing concern of late.
“At a time when media itself is so polarized and prone to political rivalry, we are concerned that political actors are finding it harder to accept media reports which are not aligned with their own personal opinions. This leads state institutions or parties to allow access only to selected media, in effect denying other media the opportunity to fulfill their journalistic tasks,” he said.
Hiriga stressed that owing to a lack of resources, media outlets may not be able to attend every event they are invited to, adding that state institutions and political parties must however remain equally accessible to all media.
He emphasized the importance of not boycotting any media outlet based on their editorial policies or perceptions of political leaning, while at the same time noting the importance of the media’s objectivity in its reporting of news.
The MJA also stated that a boycott of any media institution would be neither encouraged nor accepted by the association. The statement also called for political actors and the general public to lodge complaints with the relevant media authorities should they have complaints concerning standards of journalism.
In response to the MJA press statement, MDP Spokesperson and MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor stated that the party held no such policies to boycott media outlets. He went on to say that the party’s events were open to all media and that he felt some outlets opted to not attend them intentionally.
President’s Office Spokesperson, Abbas Adil Riza, Media Secretary Masood Imad and the Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz were not responding to calls at the time of press.
Last month, state officials accused Raajje TV of acting irresponsibly with its reporting by spreading what it called “baseless” allegations about the conduct of officers and inciting violence.
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed previously named RaajjeTV as ‘enemies of state’ in a press conference held on July24, the same day on which the Maldives Police Service released a press statement stating its refusal to cooperate with or provide protection to the same channel.
Meanwhile, Raajje TV last month continued to accuse police of targeting, assaulting and harrasing its reporters.
A statement from Raajje TV on July 10 read: “Raajje TV journalists have been forced to live in fear as they have increasingly become targets of attacks by the national security forces, particularly the police service. The station also believes that these attacks and harassment have been the source of emotional distress and psychological damage to all Raajje TV employees.”
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" Speaking to Minivan News, MJA President Ahmed ‘Hiriga’ Zahir said that although the boycott issue had been present from the time multi-party politics was established in the Maldives, the problem had become a growing concern of late.
“At a time when media itself is so polarized and prone to political rivalry, we are concerned that political actors are finding it harder to accept media reports which are not aligned with their own personal opinions. This leads state institutions or parties to allow access only to selected media, in effect denying other media the opportunity to fulfill their journalistic tasks,” he said. "
And this shameless HIRIGA, is one amongst the many (who belonged to a different category of journalism) who tried to depress human rights, democracy and the presidency of no one other than Maumoon!
Now that the wind seems to be turning around, this guy is tuning into the oncoming light! Be aware of these species!
when villa TV was under fire from MDP thugs , Anni did nothing to prevent ?
When MDP thugs put the fire on Villa TV which should have been a planned activity by Anni was not even addressed by the authorities at that time and it was also supported by the MDP mobs and thugs and leaders like Anni.
Anni had mentioned that Gaasim deserves such instead of condemning the action.
This is so called the father of the democracy actions when Villa TV was attacked by his thugs.
A lot of modern media is dominated by people of semitic origin.
Now I'm no anti-semite but I quite dislike the Jews and it saddens me that so many of my countrymen are so keen to imitate them by entering media related professions.
Especially when they work for stations that are so adamant on foisting Western normative ideals such as democracy upon us as something desirable and worth striving for.
Personally, the wisdom of Allah (swt) and his messenger are enough for me.
I have no need for newspapers or television, and I would encourage people to return to the ways of our ancestors. To a simpler life of devotion, uninterrupted by scenes of uncovered women, loud music and silly advertisements.
Though I am but a humble scholar and few will listen to me in this decadent age.
mocking religion by secularist in the name of dhivehi hanguraama. no one falls for that.
@ dhivehi hanguraama
FYI Arabs are also from semitic origin.
and we know that it is the anti-islam blogger yameen rasheed who is commenting with that name. that fellow is obsessed with semitism, not knowing that not only jews but arabs also came from that same origin. so being anti-arab can also be called as anti-semite.
Anti semitism is not used in modern parlance to refer to Arabs, even if they technically fall under the Semite umbrella; it is not my fault that the Jews have appropriated the word for themselves, thieves that they are.
Furthermore do not besmirch my reputation by accusing me of being people I am not or of holding ideologies I do not. You must desist from this at once.
I worship none other than the lord of mercy, who was not begotten and will not beget, and who sent his final messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him, to complete and perfect the religion of monotheism. That we may surrender our souls and our intellect to the glory of Tahweed, to obey Gods commands without question or complaint.
May Allah (swt) bless the Ummah and curse the polytheists, for wretched are their beliefs and dishonourable is their conduct, may they perish in jahannam, alongside the Jews.. Amen.
http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/independent-tv-station-attacked-and-vandalised
Minivan news should be ableto access the statements issued by MJA and Hirigaa on different occasions during the last 3 years. once they stated that journalists expressed their own views and they can have thier ppolitical alignments...now hes changing his statements( hassan saeed helps draft it)now journalists cannot express their opinions...its only facts they have to report..i wonder where the hell he learnt journalism. As a youngster in education ministry when he was a boy of haveeru owner zahir hussein?
The MJA, Villa TV, DhiTV, MBC, are all overrun by so called former-journalists who worked to maintain the status-quo of self censorship, government control of the dictators tenure .Most of them worked at Haveeru, the government organ of the day. They simply just don't fit the definition of 'serious media'. What kind of media will consistently ignore and down-play the MDP protests the past six-months, while the same media covered December 23 Ithihad demos till they toppled government. Tks.