Access to detention centres: The state should act in favour of press freedom

We welcome yesterday’s court judgement recognising that the state is obliged to enable journalists to report from inside prisons and detention centres. The ruling makes it clear that “the law cannot be used to create a barrier between journalists and the public” and that good faith journalism serves the public interest.

The state must now choose whether to appeal the ruling within 20 days in a bid to reinstate restrictions on press freedom, or to accept the judgement and implement policy changes that protect journalists’ freedom to scrutinise its actions. We expect the state to choose the latter.

Please read aditus’ article for an analysis of the judgement: Maltese Court rules that Access to Detention Centres by Public Watchdogs is key to holding authorities to account.