Spain: Murcia Press Office Refuses Rosa Roda Press Credentials

Despite an international press card and multiple attempts, both formal and informal, oral and written, Press Office continues to refuse to issue journalist press credentials

Location: Spain, Murcia
Date: February 1, 2024

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the repeated refusal by the Murcia Press Office to issue press credentials to veteran journalist Rosa Roda. This ongoing denial of official press accreditation to Ms. Roda, despite her possession of a valid International Press Card from the European Federation of Journalists, is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about press freedom in the Region of Murcia. Roda's professional experience and dedication to journalism spanning over three decades make her a respected and recognized journalist both nationally and internationally. Her contributions to journalism have been invaluable, and her right to access official information and press events should not be denied based on arbitrary decisions made by the government's press office. Roda deserves equitable access to press materials and events, a right afforded to her colleagues. We call upon the regional government of Murcia to issue Rosa Roda her accreditation without delay.

The government of the Region of Murcia continues to refuse to issue press accreditation to freelance journalist Rosa Roda, according to Agrupación de Periodistas de FSC-CCOO. Despite multiple attempts, both formal and informal, oral and written, Roda received vague and discouraging responses from the government's press office. The response "we are seeing to it" without specifying timelines suggests a lack of commitment or intention to address the accreditation issue.

In October 2023, after over three decades of service, Roda was abruptly fired from her position as head of News at Onda Cero. In the national publication ElDiario, journalist Manuel Segura Verdú suggested that this firing was not unexpected, as it seems that Roda had been targeted for some time. He implied that certain political and powerful entities had issues with her. After her dismissal, Roda continued her work independently as a freelancer, relying on her blog and social media accounts.

It is disheartening to note that despite numerous attempts, both formal and informal, Rosa Roda has been met with vague and discouraging responses from the Murcia Press Office. The lack of a clear timeline for addressing her accreditation issue suggests a lack of commitment on their part, which raises concerns about transparency and accountability within the government's press office.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned that Rosa Roda’s accreditation is being withheld because of her critical journalism. Communication with the press office has yielded vague and discouraging responses, creating a hostile environment and suggesting a deliberate effort to discourage Roda from pursuing her journalistic work. We firmly call upon the government of the Region of Murcia to promptly and transparently address this issue by recognizing Rosa Roda's press accreditation. We further urge them to uphold the fundamental principles of press freedom and respect the right of citizens to receive truthful information. The denial of press credentials to a journalist of Rosa Roda's caliber must not stand, and we demand that she be granted the accreditation she rightfully deserves without any further delay.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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