Broadcasting unions call for media protections

TORONTO — The World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) issued Monday an urgent call for guaranteed commitments on protecting media independence and safeguarding freedom of expression during global crises. “The role of professional journalism in providing accurate and verified news content is critical to countering the spread of misinformation and disinformation that proliferate during crisis situations and which can, quite simply, risk lives. An independent media also serves the public interest through rigorous scrutiny and the holding to account,” reads the WBU statement. Exceptional measures introduced by governments in response to public emergencies should not be used to undermine the ability of...