site.btaJournalists, Citizens Gather to Defend Freedom of Speech Outside bTV Offices
Journalists and citizens gathered for a protest outside the offices of bTV on Tuesday morning to defend the freedom of speech and journalists' right to ask questions rather than simply follow instructions. On Monday, the Association of European Journalists - Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) announced the protest as a "coffee gathering", stressing that the demonstration is professional, not political.
The protest was prompted by Monday's statement from Bulgarian broadcaster bTV saying that it would not give in to external pressure and had launched a process to terminate its relationship with morning show host Maria Tsantsarova. Tensions between the two sides escalated after, on the day of the large-scale anti-government protest on December 10, Tsantsarova placed in front of her a mug with the message "Time to make real change". The mug appeared in the frame several times during the broadcast.
bTV announced on Monday that it had decided to part ways with Tsantsarova, citing several reasons for her dismissal, including alleged on-air political bias, accusations against her immediate superior of exerting editorial pressure, and extending an interview in a way that disrupted the broadcast schedule.
Protesters gathered outside bTV on December 19 in solidarity with Tsantsarova and her colleague Zlatimir Yochev, as rumour spread that they were being taken off the show. AEJ-Bulgaria criticized the move as heavy-handed political pressure and stressed that Bulgaria must comply with the European Media Freedom Act, which protects media outlets from political interference.
/RD/
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