UGT trade union calls for greater protection for journalists on International Press Freedom Day

A TRADE UNION representing Spanish journalists has called for professional secrecy rules to be brought in to help preserve the freedom of the press.

UGT said professional secrecy for journalists would help strengthen Article 20 of Spain’s Constitution. It comes as the world marked International Press Freedom Day today (Friday).

Mariano Rivero, the UGT’s journalism spokesperson, said there had been ‘very serious’ efforts to undermine press freedoms in Spain.

He cited the seizing of mobile phones and documents from the offices of Europa Press, EFE and Diario de Mallorca on the island in December.

Those news organisations were investigating alleged corruption in the Balearic Islands. Police officers probing the outlets said at the time that their search was undertaken because official documents had been leaked to the press.

Rivero and the union also said they were concerned about the industry’s gender pay gap and about the harassment of journalists online.

Article 20 protects the right to free speech and the right for individuals and organisations to freely communicate accurate information.

It also calls for workers to be protected by conscience clauses and professional secrecy rules to preserve those freedoms.