EFJ calls on media owners to not let another news outlet die

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today warned of the dangers that come along with the closures of news outlets across Europe. In light of the German news agency DAPD stopping its services, EFJ calls on media owners not to let another news outlet die. "Again we see the commercial aspect being the only interest in connection with journalism and the dissemination of important information to the citizens. News agencies have always played an important role to provide quality journalism on essential issues. We urge media owners in Europe to consider the need of not letting news oulets die," says EFJ President Arne König.
Yesterday, DAPD stopped all services following unsuccessful take-over negotiations with possible buyers, the last one being Russian news agency Ria Nowosti. 175 permanent staff are being laid off and an undefined number of freelance journalists lose an important client. The agency had declared bankruptcy in October 2012. Already around 100 employees had lost their jobs then.
"We express our full support and solidarity with the journalists and their unions in their struggle for their jobs and the quality of information," added Arne König.
You can find more information on the crisis of news agencies in Europe on these links
(in English) http://europe.ifj.org/en/articles/closure-of-french-daily-threatens-pluralism-in-france-says-efj
(in French) http://europe.ifj.org/fr/articles/dadp-une-strategie-dangereuse-pour-les-personnels-et-pour-l-information
(in Spanish) http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfscmadrid/menu.do?Sectores:Comunicacion,_artes,_cultura_y_deporte:Actualidad:481036
You can find the reactions of the German unions on these links
http://www.djv.de/startseite/profil/der-djv/pressebereich-info-download/pressemitteilungen/detail/article/djv-bestuerzt-ueber-ende-von-dapd.html
http://dju.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/showNews?id=fdd1455a-a2b4-11e2-7ac8-001ec9b03e44
For more information, please contact EFJ on + 32 2 235 22 02
The European Federation of Journalists is the European group of the International Federation of Journalists. It represents over 300,000 journalists in 37 countries.