Threats against media outlets and organizations, Jutarnji list, Zagreb, 7.2.2024.

CJA •︎ Posted on

Threats against media outlets and organizations, Jutarnji list, Zagreb, 7.2.2024.

Translations: Zagreb 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Zagreb
  • Who was attacked?
    Organization
  • Organisation name
    Jutarnji list

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Jutarnji list
  • Type of media platform
    Printed Media
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    https://dubrovacki.slobodnadalmacija.hr/dubrovnik/vijesti/hrvatska-i-svijet/plenkovic-zlonamjerno-objavljivanje-poruka-je-sramota-koja-mi-izaziva-gadenje-1361916

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    07.02.2024
  • City
    Zagreb
  • Were authorities informed?
    Case was not reported to the authorities
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    By public official(s) and/or representative(s) of the executive power
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    In person
  • Type of incident
    Threats against media outlets and organizations
  • Type of threat
    Aggressive, harassing or discriminatory statements

  • Action by the authorities

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    No
  • What was the reaction of the journalists' association?
    The association reacted publicly

On February 7, 2024, following a visit to the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković expressed criticism toward an article published in Jutarnji List a few days earlier, which disclosed private messages between Judge Ivan Turudić and former state secretary Josipa Rimac. Plenković stated that the article was intended to discredit Turudić’s candidacy for Chief State Attorney and to harm the government politically. He described the coverage as “invasive of privacy” and “malicious,” adding that such journalism “disgusts” him. The Prime Minister also accused the media outlet (Jutarnji) of “corruption” and profiting from “clicks” on content he deemed irrelevant to the public interest. Plenković emphasized that preventing such occurrences is the purpose of proposed amendments to the Criminal Code.

Later in February, the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA) responded to Plenković’s statements, urging him to stop publicly criticizing journalists working in the public interest. CJA asserted that the prime minister “is not the editor of Croatian media” and warned that by accusing journalists of corruption, Plenković contributes to their stigmatization and potentially exposes them to the risk of attacks.