“When journalists are silenced, we all lose our voice.”
On Sunday’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for the protection of media professionals worldwide so they can safely carry out their essential work.
He warned of the growing dangers they face in their pursuit of truth —including verbal abuse, legal threats, physical attacks, imprisonment, torture and even death.
“Let us stand together to defend press freedom, demand accountability, and ensure those who speak truth to power can do so without fear.”
West Dunbartonshire Council’s chief public relations officer Amanda Graham, right, has banned her team from speaking to The Dumbarton Democrat and refuses to answer questions about public affairs here.She has taken the law into her own hands and without consultation with elected members of the council imposed this ban. It is often said that officials have taken over the council and that they run it.
That seems to be true, at least in our case. Are there any councillors with the courage to grant us a hearing to clear this matter up once and for all. We contend they lied about the circumstances when they asked us to leave the council chamber and that one senior councillor actually threatened us following a meeting when they agreed to shut Balloch Library.
Is no elected member of West Dunbartonshire Council a real democrat who will move that this ban should be ended now?
Otherwise their claims to honesty and transparency in all they do are a farce.