PA TV program discusses whether there should be limits to freedom of expression for Palestinian journalists
Official PA TV program Media Café hosted Bassem Abu Al-Rub, a journalist for WAFA, the official PA news agency on the issue of freedom of the press in the PA media establishment:
Official PA TV host: “I would like to dwell a bit longer on this freedom [of the press]. OK, you think there is freedom in the governmental media establishment. During your time [at the WAFA news agency], over the past five years, did you ever have an article withdrawn, a report censored, or did you ever receive comments from your editors on a topic you covered?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “Not an entire article, just parts, a few parts that were censored due to general policy, editorial policy.”
Official PA TV host [interrupts him]: “That is, we can’t say there is complete freedom.”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “Of course, of course. Nowhere does freedom exist completely. Even at home, one is with one’s wife, and there is no complete freedom.”
Official PA TV host [chuckling]: “I mean at work.”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “I’m telling you: No matter where you go, there is no complete or absolute freedom. Everything in our lives is limited.” […]
Official PA TV host [interrupts him]: “If you worked for a private, non-governmental media institution, what difference would that make for you? What would it add to your experience?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “If [I were working for a private media institution] I would be dealing with some of the issues relating to the social fabric, I would address other topics.”
Official PA TV host: “Those who have been following WAFA over the past years can see that there has been progress and development on their website, in the coverage techniques and in the way the news are presented. There is also more space for freedom [of the press], but this is not enough. We need more freedom, right?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “Of course we need more freedom, but not absolute freedom. Absolute freedom, like everything that oversteps its boundaries, is counterproductive…”
Official PA TV host [interrupts him]: “What is your problem with freedom? Is there a journalist who has a problem with freedom [of the press]?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “It’s not [about] freedom; I’m [talking about] self-censorship.”
Official PA TV host: “What self-censorship?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “I’m telling you this is self-censorship… Because many times we dealt with [breaks off] Facebook destroyed all [breaks off] and [we] deal with matters that harm the citizen, his rights, and even journalists’ rights. We can be exposed to a lot of criticism. I don’t know if you follow the newspapers – there is a lot of criticism. But let us continue to have self-censorship, which I told you about before.”
Official PA TV host: “I would like to dwell a bit longer on this freedom [of the press]. OK, you think there is freedom in the governmental media establishment. During your time [at the WAFA news agency], over the past five years, did you ever have an article withdrawn, a report censored, or did you ever receive comments from your editors on a topic you covered?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “Not an entire article, just parts, a few parts that were censored due to general policy, editorial policy.”
Official PA TV host [interrupts him]: “That is, we can’t say there is complete freedom.”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “Of course, of course. Nowhere does freedom exist completely. Even at home, one is with one’s wife, and there is no complete freedom.”
Official PA TV host [chuckling]: “I mean at work.”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “I’m telling you: No matter where you go, there is no complete or absolute freedom. Everything in our lives is limited.” […]
Official PA TV host [interrupts him]: “If you worked for a private, non-governmental media institution, what difference would that make for you? What would it add to your experience?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “If [I were working for a private media institution] I would be dealing with some of the issues relating to the social fabric, I would address other topics.”
Official PA TV host: “Those who have been following WAFA over the past years can see that there has been progress and development on their website, in the coverage techniques and in the way the news are presented. There is also more space for freedom [of the press], but this is not enough. We need more freedom, right?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “Of course we need more freedom, but not absolute freedom. Absolute freedom, like everything that oversteps its boundaries, is counterproductive…”
Official PA TV host [interrupts him]: “What is your problem with freedom? Is there a journalist who has a problem with freedom [of the press]?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “It’s not [about] freedom; I’m [talking about] self-censorship.”
Official PA TV host: “What self-censorship?”
Bassem Abu Al-Rub: “I’m telling you this is self-censorship… Because many times we dealt with [breaks off] Facebook destroyed all [breaks off] and [we] deal with matters that harm the citizen, his rights, and even journalists’ rights. We can be exposed to a lot of criticism. I don’t know if you follow the newspapers – there is a lot of criticism. But let us continue to have self-censorship, which I told you about before.”