HND President Hrvoje Zovko today presented a possible model for financing local media at the Great Council Hall in Slavonski Brod, which the Croatian Journalists’ Association proposes as a good practice for local government units. Representatives of the Croatian Journalists’ Association held a meeting with city officials aimed at fostering open dialogue on relations and communication between local authorities and the media.
During the meeting, participants discussed previous cooperation between the City and the media, current communication challenges, and possibilities for improvement. Particular attention was given to the need to strengthen mutual trust and transparency in informing the public, as well as to ways of resolving open issues that occasionally burden relations between certain media outlets and the City.
In this context, HND President Hrvoje Zovko presented a possible model for financing local media, which HND proposes as a best-practice solution for local self-government units. The model envisages an independent commission that, based on clearly defined and transparent criteria, would decide which media outlets receive funding to cover the work of the City of Slavonski Brod, thereby further strengthening the independence and objectivity of local journalism. It was noted that some cities have already adopted such a model, with the City of Split cited as an example.
Mayor Mirko Duspara, President Hrvoje Zovko, and Vice President Drago Hedl
Participants agreed that constructive dialogue is essential for quality and objective public information and that there is room for further improvement of communication channels and practices on both sides. In this context, the importance of clearly distinguishing professional journalism, responsible public engagement, and potential conflicts of interest was also emphasised.
Future cooperation was also agreed upon, including the organisation of a thematic public forum hosted by the Croatian Journalists’ Association.
The City of Slavonski Brod continues its policy of open communication and cooperation, with the aim of ensuring timely and accurate information for its citizens.
On behalf of the Croatian Journalists’ Association, the meeting was attended by Hrvoje Zovko, HND President, Drago Hedl, HND Vice President, Davor Kustor, President of the Brod-Posavina Branch of HND, and Željka Gavranović and Marijan Vrkljan, members of the same branch. Representing the City of Slavonski Brod were Mayor Mirko Duspara, Deputy Mayor Marina Martić Puača, all heads of the City’s administrative departments, and public relations and protocol officers.