President of the Maldives Media Council, Mohamed Asif has said that Maldivian journalists are facing difficulties and challenges from all sides.
Asif made this remark speaking at the Maldives Media Council’s Journalism Award 2014 ceremony.
He said that powerful people have their grips on the face of the nation and the media does not have the capability to remove that hand.
He noted that the Maldivian media does not have the well-being and health to raise themselves with honour and dignity as the fourth power of democracy in the Maldives.
“Maldivian journalists are facing these kinds of difficulties and challenges from all six sides. This is the case whether it be in gathering information or processing information or dissipating that information. Nor is a good environment established in the works space of the local journalists,” he said.
He said that the journalists’ fear of losing one’s job is from the evidences to this appalling state of the Maldivian media.
Asif said that there exists numerous challenges in dissipating correct information. “The journalists are facing many threats. It is now 268 days since one of their colleagues have been found missing. There are many questions regarding the future of Maldivian media,” he said.
“As is the theme for this year, Let Journalism Thrive! Towards better reporting, gender equality and media safety in the digital age,” he said.
There are many difficulties faced by journalists from every side- Asif
