TALLINN — Estonia’s proposed source protection law is fueling discord between the government and journalists, with the justice minister calling journalists “retarded” in his blog and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers protesting.

The government submitted the draft act to Estonia’s parliament on March 16. If passed, the law would allow the arrest of journalists and forced disclosure of their sources in libel cases. Courts would also be able to fine publishers that publish harmful information with the intent of malice. Two days later Estonia’s three biggest newspapers by circulation printed [private_supervisor]empty front pages to protest the bill and sent out press releases to other European media. The newspapers’ cry for help did not go for deaf ears and reached the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum who reacted with a petition to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to veto the law if it passed parliament in its current form.

The letter, signed by Gavin O’Reilly, president of World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers; Xavier Vidal-Folch, president of  World Editors Forum; Valdo Lehari, Jr., president of European Newspaper Publishers’ Association; and Arne König, president of European Federation of Journalists, shows a serious concern about this law and calls it a serious threat to freedom of the press.

“It would, in particular, have a significant negative impact on investigative journalism and
articles based on information provided by whistleblowers,” reads the letter, “Furthermore, the draft law is in clear conflict with Estonia’s treaty obligations, international standards of professional
practice and codes of journalism ethics, including the code of ethics of the Estonian press.”

“We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that your country fully respects its international obligations and standards of press freedom,” reads the letter.

Minister of Justice Rein Lang, who initiated the bill, is refusing to comment on the issue.

“I will not comment anything, thank you,” Lang told Baltic Reports.

However, Lang had plenty to say a Monday blog entry, arguing that the law is intended to protect those who are helpless to defend themselves against unfair media coverage.

“Instead of ideas and opinions, half-truths and lies mixed into the sauce of marketing tricks are flying in our information room,” wrote Lang in his blog. “But who would want to be a leader in a society, where retarded journalists are pouring filth between your collar without punishment?”

Lang explained with colorful words that newspapers, radio stations and internet publications are quickly getting trashy and the media’s “collective brain” has turned into a collective mud bath where a small group satisfies its psychological complexes and bitterness.

Lang blamed media corporations for hiring editors to grab the attention from the consumers, those however hire employers “whose ethical level and skills would enable them to work as a bus attendant, not as a publisher of journalistic information.” [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]empty front pages to protest the bill and sent out press releases to other European media. The newspapers’ cry for help did not go for deaf ears and reached the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum who reacted with a petition to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to veto the law if it passed parliament in its current form.

The letter, signed by Gavin O’Reilly, president of World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers; Xavier Vidal-Folch, president of World Editors Forum; Valdo Lehari, Jr., president of European Newspaper Publishers’ Association; and Arne König, president of European Federation of Journalists, shows a serious concern about this law and calls it a serious threat to freedom of the press.

“It would, in particular, have a significant negative impact on investigative journalism and
articles based on information provided by whistleblowers,” reads the letter, “Furthermore, the draft law is in clear conflict with Estonia’s treaty obligations, international standards of professional
practice and codes of journalism ethics, including the code of ethics of the Estonian press.”

“We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that your country fully respects its international obligations and standards of press freedom,” reads the letter.

Minister of Justice Rein Lang, who initiated the bill, is refusing to comment on the issue.

“I will not comment anything, thank you,” Lang told Baltic Reports.

However, Lang had plenty to say a Monday blog entry, arguing that the law is intended to protect those who are helpless to defend themselves against unfair media coverage.

“Instead of ideas and opinions, half-truths and lies mixed into the sauce of marketing tricks are flying in our information room,” wrote Lang in his blog. “But who would want to be a leader in a society, where retarded journalists are pouring filth between your collar without punishment?”

Lang explained with colorful words that newspapers, radio stations and internet publications are quickly getting trashy and the media’s “collective brain” has turned into a collective mud bath where a small group satisfies its psychological complexes and bitterness.

Lang blamed media corporations for hiring editors to grab the attention from the consumers, those however hire employers “whose ethical level and skills would enable them to work as a bus attendant, not as a publisher of journalistic information.” [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]empty front pages to protest the bill and sent out press releases to other European media. The newspapers’ cry for help did not go for deaf ears and reached the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum who reacted with a petition to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to veto the law if it passed parliament in its current form.

The letter, signed by Gavin O’Reilly, president of World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers; Xavier Vidal-Folch, president of World Editors Forum; Valdo Lehari, Jr., president of European Newspaper Publishers’ Association; and Arne König, president of European Federation of Journalists, shows a serious concern about this law and calls it a serious threat to freedom of the press.

“It would, in particular, have a significant negative impact on investigative journalism and
articles based on information provided by whistleblowers,” reads the letter, “Furthermore, the draft law is in clear conflict with Estonia’s treaty obligations, international standards of professional
practice and codes of journalism ethics, including the code of ethics of the Estonian press.”

“We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that your country fully respects its international obligations and standards of press freedom,” reads the letter.

Minister of Justice Rein Lang, who initiated the bill, is refusing to comment on the issue.

“I will not comment anything, thank you,” Lang told Baltic Reports.

However, Lang had plenty to say a Monday blog entry, arguing that the law is intended to protect those who are helpless to defend themselves against unfair media coverage.

“Instead of ideas and opinions, half-truths and lies mixed into the sauce of marketing tricks are flying in our information room,” wrote Lang in his blog. “But who would want to be a leader in a society, where retarded journalists are pouring filth between your collar without punishment?”

Lang explained with colorful words that newspapers, radio stations and internet publications are quickly getting trashy and the media’s “collective brain” has turned into a collective mud bath where a small group satisfies its psychological complexes and bitterness.

Lang blamed media corporations for hiring editors to grab the attention from the consumers, those however hire employers “whose ethical level and skills would enable them to work as a bus attendant, not as a publisher of journalistic information.” [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]empty front pages to protest the bill and sent out press releases to other European media. The newspapers’ cry for help did not go for deaf ears and reached the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum who reacted with a petition to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to veto the law if it passed parliament in its current form.

The letter, signed by Gavin O’Reilly, president of World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers; Xavier Vidal-Folch, president of World Editors Forum; Valdo Lehari, Jr., president of European Newspaper Publishers’ Association; and Arne König, president of European Federation of Journalists, shows a serious concern about this law and calls it a serious threat to freedom of the press.

“It would, in particular, have a significant negative impact on investigative journalism and
articles based on information provided by whistleblowers,” reads the letter, “Furthermore, the draft law is in clear conflict with Estonia’s treaty obligations, international standards of professional
practice and codes of journalism ethics, including the code of ethics of the Estonian press.”

“We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that your country fully respects its international obligations and standards of press freedom,” reads the letter.

Minister of Justice Rein Lang, who initiated the bill, is refusing to comment on the issue.

“I will not comment anything, thank you,” Lang told Baltic Reports.

However, Lang had plenty to say a Monday blog entry, arguing that the law is intended to protect those who are helpless to defend themselves against unfair media coverage.

“Instead of ideas and opinions, half-truths and lies mixed into the sauce of marketing tricks are flying in our information room,” wrote Lang in his blog. “But who would want to be a leader in a society, where retarded journalists are pouring filth between your collar without punishment?”

Lang explained with colorful words that newspapers, radio stations and internet publications are quickly getting trashy and the media’s “collective brain” has turned into a collective mud bath where a small group satisfies its psychological complexes and bitterness.

Lang blamed media corporations for hiring editors to grab the attention from the consumers, those however hire employers “whose ethical level and skills would enable them to work as a bus attendant, not as a publisher of journalistic information.” [/private_subscription 1 year]

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