19 December 2008, 10:24
The Bill (Reg. No. 2508) regulates relations that originate by journalists´ fulfillment of their professional duties. The Bill establishes legitimate guarantees of journalistic activity, enhances social protection of journalists and responsibility for hampering their professional activity.
However, the Committee members believe that the Bill fails to comply with a number of effective Laws "On Information", "On Printed Mass Media in Ukraine", "On Governmental Support of Mass Media and Social Protection of Journalists". Thus, Article 37 of the Law "On Information" defines information not liable to being promulgated - secret, confidential, information concerning operational and investigatory activities, private life, information about financial enterprises. Nevertheless, the Bill presupposes that journalists can request any information from public bodies, enterprises, organizations irregardless of the form of ownership, and citizens.