Catholic Herald Reporter
1-11-IF number of journalists anti writers who have _ome to the Westfrom Corn
nunist-dominated countries is
nigher than ever before, said spokesman for the International Federation of Free
Journalists during a Press exhibition at Olympia, London, last week.
The International Federation of Free Journalists is the organisation which broadcasters and journalists from Communist-ruled countries join on arrival in the West. It had only 400 members 12 years ago. Today is has more thap 1.200. Over 70 per cent of these are Catholics.
Working in all parts of the Free World to combat the evils of totalitarian regimes, I.F.F.J. members are producing some 900 papers between them, and their readership runs into tens of millions.
The Federation's London chairman, Mr. Ion Ratiu, told me: "One of the least-known yet terrifying facts which we have to face is that out of all the 106 countries of the world. only 44 countries have a free Press. Our members consider it their duty to expose this lack of freedom, and to overcome it by contributing to broadcasts beamed at the lion Curtain countries and those behind the Berlin Wall." Broadcasting units which I.F.E.I.members help regularly include the BBC, Vatican Radio, Radiodiffusion Francais, Radio Liberation Munich, Radio Free Europe, RI AS of Berlin. and the Voice of America. Soviet bloc governments are spending an estimated £66rn to jam Radio Free Europe. The power used for lamming the Voice of America broadcasts is enough to light up a town the Si7.r. of Manchester.