By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 22 October 2014:
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is launching a hard-hitting advertising campaign Not seeing news from Libya anymore? . . .[restrict]on the third anniversary of the fall of Qaddafi’s regime. Working in Libya, is becoming increasingly difficult, as journalists face threats and danger on a regular basis.
RSF has repeatedly protested that journalists and other media personnel are being targeted in Libya, which last year ranked 137 out of 180 countries in the RSF’s press freedom report.
Since the end of the Libyan revolution, Reporters Without Borders has registered seven murders, 37 abductions and 127 physical attacks or acts of harassment targeting journalists.
“Covering the on-going turmoil” says RSF, “reporting human rights violations by the various armed groups or even just describing a particular faction’s military progress or political position, exposes journalists to great danger. Carrying a camera or a press card now requires considerable courage”.
RSF has emphasised the importance of the media’s role in the transition to democracy: “It is crucial for Libya’s future that all political, military and civilian actors respect freedom of information. Without freedom of information, there is no independent watchdog and without an independent watchdog, there is no democracy.”
The new campaign, using a thought-provoking photo (above), was designed by the JWT Tunis advertising agency. It is being produced in Arabic, French and English. [/restrict]
