(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 1 March 2002 RSF press release: Conflict over the distribution of free daily Metro Reporters Sans Frontières is concerned about the drastic means that have been implemented to prevent the distribution of the free daily Metro in Paris and Marseilles since 18 February 2002. Regardless of the economic, industrial […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 1 March 2002 RSF press release:
Conflict over the distribution of free daily Metro
Reporters Sans Frontières is concerned about the drastic means that have been implemented to prevent the distribution of the free daily Metro in Paris and Marseilles since 18 February 2002.
Regardless of the economic, industrial and social problems that are being created today by the free press and its means of distribution, destroying newspapers or assaulting vendors are, in France as elsewhere, unacceptable actions that constitute genuine attacks on the freedom to inform.
Neither the observance of professional ethics, the respect for the structure of the Parisian press, or the news press’s legitimate concerns surrounding limited advertising revenues can justify the calling into question of the very principle of unobstructed distribution of information.
Reporters Sans Frontières calls on publishers, public officials, journalists’ trade unions, book publishing trade unions and those in charge of the new free press to seek means to stimulate the development of the entire written press in France and information pluralism.
