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Reporters on their beats are crying out every day to point out and resist the injustice of the government's anti-democratic anti-press measures.

We, the chief editors of media companies nationwide in charge of covering, editing and reporting news stories, have called this meeting because we decided we could no longer tolerate the government's unilateral implementation of anti-press measures and the consequent unnatural standoff between the government and reporters in the press rooms.

We believe that government measures consistently aim to block reporters' access to information about government policies -- measures such as a virtual ban on reporters' entry into government offices and face-to-face interviews with government officials; expulsion of reporters from pressrooms at each government agency to drive them into a few centralized briefing rooms for government agencies of a quite different nature; and the attempt to issue press passes with electronic tags to reporters for those briefing rooms. We consider all these attempts a grave suppression of the press.

Managing editors and chief news editors of newspapers, broadcasters and news agencies discuss a resolution urging the Roh Moo-hyun government to scrap draconian new press controls at an emergency meeting at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.

Worse press suppression than during military dictatorships

The government is attempting to block reporters' coverage of government offices and access to government officials. This is a worse case of suppression of the press than during the military dictatorships, which only attempted to interfere with the publication of news stories that reporters had already covered and written.

The government is saying that these measures aim to “integrate” pressrooms and thus end confusion in publicizing government policies. But that is nothing but an admission that it wants to escape the watchful eyes of the media.

The government is attempting to cover up what is disadvantageous to it and let the public know only what is advantageous. But the government, which is run with taxpayers' money, is not a sanctuary for the privileged. Taxpayers have the right to observe the entire process from formulation to implementation of policies. Reporters cover and report news stories as the eyes and ears of people who have these rights. But the government is attempting to control the press, saying, "Do this, but do not do that," as if it were bestowing favors on reporters. This is an anti-constitutional measure that fundamentally infringes on the freedom of the press, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.

Withdraw the anti-democratic anti-press measures

We profoundly appreciate the encouragement we have been given by the public as well as by senior or retired journalists who dedicated their lives to the freedom of the press so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today, while long resisting suppression of the press by authoritarian governments. The current situation makes us feel keenly once again that press freedom is not gained by begging but won by sacrifices. And we have decided as follows:

First, we fully support the reporters who have been struggling to resist the government's anti-press measures. The government must immediately withdraw all press controls.

Second, as journalists, we will hold public officials who have formulated and implemented the anti-democratic press controls accountable before history for their mistakes. We demand the president call them to account in consideration of the seriousness of the situation.

Third, we are determined to defend the people's right to know by resisting the government's suppression regardless of the difficulties and sacrifices involved. We will never accept the anti-press measures.

Fourth, we will work out an additional response if the government ignores our sincere appeal.

Last, we pledge despite the present difficulties to make more efforts for fair and truthful news reporting. And we will review the practice of reporters' news coverage and try to improve it. As journalists, we will walk the path of virtue regardless of adversity.

Aug. 30, 2007 The managing and chief news editors of newspapers, broadcasters, and news agencies nationwide