The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), representing over 320,000 members, has announced they will no longer post on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, starting January 20, 2025. Their decision to leave the platform, citing concerns over disinformation, propaganda, and editorial direction, is nothing short of hypocritical.
Let’s get this straight—X allows anyone to post what they want. If you don’t like something, you can comment, block, mute, or post a rebuttal. Isn’t that free speech? The EFJ’s departure is not a defense of journalistic integrity or truth but a display of elitism and censorship. These journalists claim they cannot participate in a platform that allegedly “promotes disinformation.” But isn’t the heart of journalism supposed to be about giving people access to a wide array of perspectives, not silencing those they disagree with?
EFJ President Maja Sever’s statement, calling Musk’s ownership a threat to journalism, reeks of irony. Since when did supporting free speech become a threat to journalism? Sever’s attack on Musk for allegedly “proclaiming the death of the media” conveniently ignores the fact that platforms like X provide more voices with the opportunity to speak freely than traditional media outlets have allowed for decades.
EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez argues that Musk’s editorial decisions are “contrary to our humanist values and commitment to press freedom.” But doesn’t press freedom mean respecting the right to voice opinions without fear of censorship? Gutiérrez’s refusal to acknowledge that X promotes a space for diverse viewpoints exposes the true agenda: control over the narrative.
This isn’t about protecting the truth; it’s about protecting their monopoly on information. The EFJ, alongside outlets like The Guardian and the German Journalists Association, is abandoning a platform where the people control the discourse, instead of elite editors who decide what is or isn’t “acceptable” for public consumption.
In the end, the departure from X represents a failure to adapt to a world where speech is free, and everyone has the right to participate—whether they agree with the mainstream narrative or not. These journalists are not defending truth; they are defending their outdated grip on media power. They may be leaving X, but they can’t silence the voices of those who choose to speak freely, whether they like it or not.
In the age of true free speech, their actions only highlight their resistance to diversity of thought. And it’s not about disinformation—it’s about fear of losing control.
🚨 BREAKING: The European Federation of Journalists representing 300,000+ journalists have just announced they are leaving X and will no longer be posting.
What's your response? pic.twitter.com/peVYhufwha
— TRUMP ARMY (@TRUMP_ARMY_) November 28, 2024
Sources:
https://nationwideradiojm.com/european-federation-of-journalists-to-stop-posting-on-x/
https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/journalists_leaving_x_bluesky.php