28 November 25 Ulaanbaatar
More than decade passed since a democratic and professional journalism and supporting process of independent media have developed in Mongolia.
Mongolian media and journalists are experiencing many difficulties in exercising their professional duties. According to a 2004 survey conducted by the Globe International among 200 journalists working in news and current affairs, 100% of respondents said that both official censorship and self-censorship exist. A respondents explained a reason of censorship as follows: most of them or 29% said, “there no capable organization to protect and serve the journalists” and 27.5% said “Afraid to be imprisoned due to unfavorable legal environment” and 15.5 % said “ afraid to be called and questioned by legal organizations”.
In the frame of the newly started project “Monitoring free expression violation and supporting the rights of independent media” was conducted this probing survey to evaluate in monitoring the present situation and to study a some cases.
The survey conducted on the violation of free expression situation among 100 journalists working in seven print media outlets including five daily and two independent yellow paper and also involved a journalists of national radio and television
The result of survey shows that, more than 60% of journalists working currently in media are young people around 18-30 years old and a majority of them have a high education and graduated a journalism institute.
Table 1. Background information of respondents
1.Age Percentage Numerical index 2. Education background Percentage Numerical index
18-25 27 27 Secondary education
25-30 38 38 High education 97 97
31-35 12 12 Special education
36-45 7 7 Others
45 and over 12 12 Not answered 3 3
Not answered4 4
Total 100% 100 Total 100% 100
48% of respondents answered that they have been working in the field of a media from 3 month to 5 year and about 31 % said for 6-15 years and 10% said for 16-25 and 5 % said have been working more than 25 years. Basing on journalists answer could conclude that almost more than half of journalists who were involved to this survey have an experience.
Freedom of expression, freedom of speech and publishing rights are a fundamental rights of a democracy. These mentioned rights, freedom of expression and freedom of speech and publishing rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and also in article 2 of the Law on Freedom of Media stated that “ It shall be prohibited to issue laws that restrict freedom of media and freedom of communication media” and in article 3 “ The State shall not impose control (censoring) over the contents of public information, the State shall not establish and organization to control published and broadcasted information neither it shall finance its activities”. It was important that determined a legal environment of public broadcasting which can promote pluralism and transparency and disseminate unbiased information to the public and able to play it’s vital role of “ public watchdog”.
Table 2.
Yes 40 40
No 58 58
Not answered 2 2
Total 100% 100
However the result of survey shows that most of journalists (60% ) could not enjoy and experience these rights guaranteed by law. (See Table 2). 53 % of all respondents of survey have answered Yes, on that question “Was you threatened or pressured in connection with your publication and broadcasted items?” ( See Table 3) 63.3 % of journalists who answered above question Yes have faced a pressure once or over 3 times, 23.3% was assaulted 4-6 times and more than 13.4 % of journalists have menaced in excess of 7 times.
Table 3
Yes 53 53
No 40 40
Not answered 7 7
Total 100% 100
It reveals that, more than half of respondents have threatened and pressured by someone in connection with their published and broadcast items. That unfavorable environment have influenced negatively to the journalists to work complacently and in the high professional level.
We have questioned a journalists about a types of pressure and coerce and 32.8% answered that they have received a threatening call from someone, 1.6% answered a family members was attacked, 8.2% was coerced to violate to their life and health, 27.1% was pressured through a media outlet’s owners and managers, 3.3% was coerced to impose sanctions on a financing, 12.3% was demanded to publish a false correction on their materials, 13.9% was called to a legal organizations and 0.8% was threatened to damage a private property. The result of survey reveals that in most cases a journalists have become a victim while they experiencing a professional duty.
Table 4
Types free expression violations Numerical index Percentage
A Received a threat call 40 32.8
B Assaulted a family members 2 1.6
C Received a threat to assault on life and health 10 8.2
D Pressured through a media owners and managers 33 27.1
E Coerced to impose sanctions on a organizations financing 4 3.3
F Demanded to publish a false correction 15 12.3
G Were called to legal organizations and questioned 17 13.9
H Threatened to assault on private property. 1 0.8
Total 122 100%
All respondents of survey have answered that question “Were you called to legal organizations in connection with your publications? If were called / which organization? See table 5
Table 5
Name of legal organization Numerical index Percentage
Case registration and investigating organization 16 45.7
Justice 15 42.8
Prosecutor 1 2.8
Intelligence organization 3 8.7
Total 35 100%
On that question “Have you challenging any concern while experiencing your professional duty” all respondents answered Yes. For what kind of concern or more clearly what kind of fear a journalists have been facing See table 6.
Table 6
Types of concern & worry Numerical index Percentage
By pressured by media owners and managers 17 10.3
Be afraid due to unfavorable legal environment 30 18.3
Be anxious to be called to legal organizations and questioned 16 9.8
A fear to be called to court 16 9.8
A fear to be imprisoned 10 6.1
Be afraid that could not prove an information source. 15 9.1
Be afraid to be punished 12 7.3
Be worried to lose a job 10 6.1
Be afraid that no one will protect me as journalist
/Journalist organization are not strong and not willing to protect/ 38 23.2
Total 164 100%
A final question of our survey was that “What kind of actions should be taken in the future for the development of independent media”. Most of journalists, 56% responded that should be empowered a journalist’s organization to serve it’s members and protect their right and interest. For more information see table 7.
Table 7.
Variety of actions should be taken Numerical index Percentage
Create a favorable environment for the
development of independent journalism 34 12.8
Empower a journalists organization 56 21.1
Guarantee a journalist’s rights that protects
an information source. 44 16.6
Develop a media self regulation as well as create Ethical
committee of Journalism Union, Press ‘Tsets’ ‘which can
work effectively and should enact an act that
guarantee a redaction independence and make
a contract with media owners on it. 33 12.5
Regularize to make a journalists labour contract under this act. 14 5.3
Organize trainings among journalists to increase their
knowledge on it. 9 3.4
Organize same trainings among media owner’s and executives. 8 3.0
Should provide a training with an aim to increase journalist’s
and media owners legal education 11 4.2
Should enact a law in gathering unbiased information 30 11.3
Should improve a legal environment 26 9.8
Total 265 100%
Conclusion
1. The survey revealed that even as a journalists are willing to abide a princip of professional ethics however it always violates due to a strong coerce and censorship. Also exposed, a nessecity and importance to organize a legal education training among journalists and provide legal assistance and advice for them.
2. Should develop a monitoring network on implementation of law on media freedom and make an analysis on censorship and reinforce national and international advocacy on freedom of expression and independent media
3. Program policy of media outlets must be apart from a influence and conflict of interest of it’s owners and executives.
4. Should carry out an activities to increase on journalism professional ethics, media self regulation, media management, legal education among journalists and media owners.
5. There is a need to guarantee a media independence and perform a work to empower a journalist’s organisation
6. To organize a training systematically among a legal officials to reduce a misunderstanding between a journalists and lawyers.