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Press Independence is in the Details

Sometimes press freedom is not a result of big, overarching issues, but of ensuring that many small things are properly respected.

by WAN-IFRA Staff executivenews@wan-ifra.org | September 3, 2012

In the case of Ukraine, creating a viable market where independent media can thrive is the basis of ensuring press freedom, said Boris Lozhkin, Vice President Ukrainian Association of Press Publishers, Ukraine and President UMH Group, Ukraine in his opening remarks to the 64th World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Kiev, Ukraine.

“The government is not a monster that wants to stifle the press but can be a partner to help us grow the market,” he said. “All market participants need to be solvent to assure press independence,” he said.

Mr Lozhkin noted that Ukraine has an inadequate number of sales points for the written press, which hampers development. “With a good point of sale structure, the importance of the press will grow in our country,” he said.

“We need to look at the tax aspect of the business. We need to look at VAT. We need to look at the income tax that is now levelled on our industry,” he said.

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