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AEJ joins call by news and journalists’ groups for US government not to curtail its visa regime for foreign journalists

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AEJ joins call by news and journalists’ groups for US government not to curtail its visa regime for foreign journalists

 

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has won support from 24 global media organisations including the AEJ for today’s public appeal to the US Department of Homeland Security to drop plans to shorten visa lengths for foreign journalists. The joint statement says the proposed changes would put media freedom at risk and jeopardise the work of foreign media to provide accurate, unbiased news reporting for global audiences from the USA.

 

JOINT STATEMENT ON DHS PROPOSAL ON I VISAS, 25 October, 2020

A proposal to change the way the US manages visas for foreign journalists threatens to seriously jeopardise the exercise of journalistic freedom. We, the undersigned, urge the Department of Homeland Security to drop this proposal.

The “I visa” is required for all foreign journalists operating in the US, whether they are there for one week or five years. Once issued it is valid for up to five years, allowing journalists to work there continuously or travel in and out of the US for assignments. The proposal by the Department of Homeland Security to limit the visa to 240 days, with a possible extension of a maximum of 240 days, would seriously impact the work of the foreign media in covering the news in the US. Furthermore, the proposal is unclear about how the decision about a possible extension would be reached and what would happen after the extension period has elapsed.

Many foreign news organizations have a permanent presence in the US by sending correspondents there for a number of years (commonly 2-5 years). This period of time allows the individual journalists to better understand the country and therefore better report on it to the rest of the world. Restricting the time they could stay to a maximum duration of 480 days carries a substantial risk to how the US is represented globally.

Moreover, we do not agree that this proposal will achieve the ambitions stated: to encourage program compliance, reduce fraud and enhance national security. The I visa application process already requires the individual to name and be supported by the international media organization they work for and is only valid as long as they continue to work for that organization.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution is the backbone to its reputation for freedom of speech and of the press. This proposal is a serious threat to that and risks damaging the US’s reputation globally as a free and open democracy, as well as reducing the opportunity for the world to better understand the US.

We, the undersigned, remain firmly committed to delivering accurate and unbiased news reporting for a global audience. We therefore ask the US administration to continue to support a sustainable framework safeguarding media freedom.

SIGNATORIES

Tony Hall, President, European Broadcasting Union

 

Michael McEwen, Director General, North American Broadcasters Association

 

Vincent Peyregne, Chief Executive Officer, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers

 

Cherilyn Ireton, Executive Director World Editors Forum, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers

 

Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists

 

Michael Friedenberg, President, Reuters

 

Sally Buzbee, Executive Editor, The Associated Press

 

Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director, Agence France-Presse

 

Brodie Fenlon, Editor-in-Chief, CBC News

 

Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News

 

Irene Gentle, Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star

 

Ricardo Gutierrez, General Secretary, European Federation of Journalists

 

William Horsley, Media Freedom Representative, Association of European Journalists

 

Juan Carlos Isaza-Montejo, Managing Director, Alianza Informativa Latinoamericana

 

Brent Jolly, President, Canadian Association of Journalists

 

Luce Julien, General Manager, News and Current Affairs, Radio-Canada

 

Ilias Konteas, Executive Director, European Magazine Media Association & European Newspaper Publishers’ Association

 

Simon Marks, President & Chief Correspondent, Feature Story News

 

Angela Mills Wade, Executive Director, European Publishers Council

 

Andrew Moger, Executive Director, News Media Coalition

 

Jessica Ni Mhainin, Senior Policy Research and Advocacy Officer, Index on Censorship

 

Wout van Wijk, Executive Director, News Media Europe

 

Adrian Wells, Managing Director, European News Exchange

 

Leon Willems, Director of Policy & Programmes, Free Press Unlimited

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