SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, 06.05.2020. β The BH Journalists Association and the Free Media Help Line send a public protest to the Director General of the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska, Vlado ΔajiΔ, and his deputy, Nenad StevandiΔ, for utterly inappropriate and insolent treatment towards journalists who are following the latest developments regarding the occurrence of coronavirus in this healthcare facility.
Instead of professionally performing their duty and providing the public with true, up-to-date and timely information on the occurrence of coronavirus at the UCC, as well as publicly taking over at least a part of the responsibility for this crisis, the leaders of this healthcare institution targeted journalists, openly accusing them of lying, manipulating and spreading panic, and even claiming that journalists are βresponsibleβ for entering a coronavirus into the UCC ?!
The BH Journalists Steering Committee and the Free Media Help Line consider especially worrying the statement of the UCC RS director Vlado ΔajiΔ, quoted by television and the N1 portal, that he has βhis own service that follows everythingβ, including, as he said, βthe media and portalsβ. Such a statement can only be interpreted as an open threat to journalists and media outlets who report in a way that ΔajiΔ and his associates dislike, and an unacceptable pressure on free and critical journalism.
We think that the statement about the βservice that follows everythingβ is particularly alarming because it is a criminal act of unlawful monitoring, but also in the context of the close links between director ΔajiΔ and his deputy StevandiΔ with the ruling political structures in Republika Srpska. Regardless of their political engagement, ΔajiΔ and StevandiΔ perform publicly responsible functions and, as health care professionals β doctors, should be a model of moral and humane behaviour in the interests of RS citizens, and not deal with confrontations with media representatives and divide journalists to eligible and ineligible.
We also remind director ΔajiΔ and his deputy Stevandic that if they believe that certain media are transmitting false information and spreading panic in the public, they have the usual and legal ways of responding to such occurences, such as dementi and defamation lawsuits, instead of engaging some βsecret servicesβ to monitor and control the media, which certainly should not belong to a democratic society.
Steering Commitee of BH Journalists Association/Free Media Help Line
Prishtina, 06.05.2020 – The Association of Journalists of Kosovo, on the 5th of May 2020 has received a complaint from Yllka Ahmetxhekaj β journalist, who claims to have been prevented by a Kosovo policeman during her work.
Referring to the complaint addressed to AJK, the journalist who is a staff member of βPeriskopiβ – online news portal, has been prevented during one of her investigations in regards to a quarantine case, even though she proclaims that the interviewees, part of the investigation, were very relaxed and did not show hesitation to answer questions during the conversation.
However, during the day, Ahmetxhekaj has been called by a person who introduced himself as a policeman from the Investigation Unit in Gjilan. He told Ahmetxhekaj that she had committed a criminal offense by interviewing these people as she had disturbed them, and therefore other calls would follow where her case would be further discussed.
Given that such a phone call was made by an official number of the Investigation Unit in Gjilan, AJK contacted the Kosovo Police by asking about the policeman who prevented the aforementioned journalist, about upon which rights did he request to know the sources of the journalist and on what basis the journalist in question was told that she had in fact committed a criminal offense. So far, AJK has not received any answer to the questions.
AJK condemns such improper approaches to journalists and reminds state officials that they must refrain from verbal attacks and pressure of any kind directed to media and journalists. AJK as well calls on state institutions, including Kosovo Police, to respect the noble work of journalists and assist them in creating a proper environment for an accurate and professional reporting.
bEOGRAD, 06.05.2020. – IzveΕ‘taj Freedom hause, nevladine organizacije sa sediΕ‘tem u VaΕ‘ingtonu, o medijskim slobodama u svetu za 2019. godinu, Srbiju smeΕ‘ta u zemlje sa βdelimiΔnom slobodom medija” i ocenom 2 od maksimalno 4.
Srbija je smeΕ‘tena u one zemlje u kojima antidemokratski lideri novim setom oruΔa, koja ukljuΔuju zakonska i vanzakonska sredstva, pokuΕ‘avaju da uΔutkaju kritiΔko novinarstvo, i ojaΔaju medije naklonjene vlastima.
Poseban deo izveΕ‘taja je posveΔenΒ medijskoj situaciji u SrbijiΒ i MaΔarskoj, u kojima postoji velika sliΔnost kada je reΔ o novim naΔinima za preuzimanje medija i stavljanje pod kontrolu partije na vlasti.
Novi reΕΎimski alati
Set oruΔa koje vlasti u Srbiji i MaΔarskoj koriste kako bi ostvarili medijsku dominaciju svrstan je u takozvani neliberalni ili antiliberalni reΕΎimski alat, u koji spada Δitav repertoar poteza i naΔina za preuzimanje medija putem ekonomskih, pravnih i vanpravnih mera.
Preuzimanje medija od strane saradnika i prijatelja vlasti, selektivna upotreba prava, zloupotreba regulatorne prakse, ciljano reklamiranje drΕΎavnih preduzeΔa, izdaΕ‘ne drΕΎavne subvencije prijateljskim medijima, verbalno nasilje, politizovana manipulacija zakonima, maltretiranje medija od strane poreskih organa, nekaΕΎnjivost pretnji protiv novinara – samo su neki od naΔina za kontrolu medijske scene u Srbiji.
IstiΔe se takoΔe da vlada Viktora Orbana i administracija Aleksandra VuΔiΔa Δine sve kako bi rasformirali institucionalnu kontrolu vlasti i centralizovali moΔ u svojim rukama. IzveΕ‘taj primeΔuje da su oba lidera imali koristi od evropske podrΕ‘ke i neefikasne domaΔe opozicije, ali i da je dominacija medijima samo poduprela njihov politiΔki uspeh.
Zamazivanje oΔiju Evropi
IzveΕ‘taj Freedom house navodi da je proces konsolidacije medijskog vlasniΕ‘tva u rukama ljudi od poverenja vlasti u MaΔarskoj gotovo zavrΕ‘en, jer je oko 80 procenata medija u vlasniΕ‘tvu saveznika vlasti. Taj proces u Srbiji prema ovom izveΕ‘taju nije toliko uspeΕ‘an, ali pretnje i pritisci na novinare su deo svakodnevice novinara u Srbiji.
Tamara Skrozza, novinar nedeljnika Vreme i agencije Fonet stoga za DW kaΕΎe da ocene iznete u ovom izveΕ‘taju ne predstavljaju neko veliko iznenaΔenje:
βSva relevantna istraΕΎivanja pokazuju pad medijskih sloboda u Srbiji, tako da sam ja oΔekivala moΕΎda i loΕ‘ije ocene od ovih iznetih u Freedom house izveΕ‘taju. Ono Ε‘to je zanimljivo je da drΕΎava veΔ nekoliko godina ne pokazuje nikakvu volju da na tom planu neΕ‘to uradi. Imali smo pokuΕ‘aj dijaloga vlasti sa medijskom zajednicom, sastavljanje nove radne grupe i pisanje nove medijske strategije- Ε‘to je u startu ispostavilo se bilo neustavno- i sve se to pokazalo samo kao pokuΕ‘aj da se zamaΕΎu oΔi Evropi i meΔunarodnim organizacijama koje se time bave”, istiΔe Skrozza.
Srbija u loΕ‘em druΕ‘tvu
KomentariΕ‘uΔi novi set neliberalnih alata za kontrolu medija profesor Fakulteta politiΔkih nauka Rade Veljanovski za DW kaΕΎe da je u cilju smanjivanja demokratskih kapaciteta i slobodnog izraΕΎavanja βuspostavljena stalna atmosfera straha u kojoj mediji strahuju da Δe ako omoguΔe kritiku vlasti to uticati na oglaΕ‘ivaΔe”.
Srbija je smeΕ‘tena u one zemlje u kojima antidemokratski lideri novim setom oruΔa, koja ukljuΔuju zakonska i vanzakonska sredstva, pokuΕ‘avaju da uΔutkaju kritiΔko novinarstvo, i ojaΔaju medije naklonjene vlastima.
Poseban deo izveΕ‘taja je posveΔenΒ medijskoj situaciji u SrbijiΒ i MaΔarskoj, u kojima postoji velika sliΔnost kada je reΔ o novim naΔinima za preuzimanje medija i stavljanje pod kontrolu partije na vlasti.
Novi reΕΎimski alati
Set oruΔa koje vlasti u Srbiji i MaΔarskoj koriste kako bi ostvarili medijsku dominaciju svrstan je u takozvani neliberalni ili antiliberalni reΕΎimski alat, u koji spada Δitav repertoar poteza i naΔina za preuzimanje medija putem ekonomskih, pravnih i vanpravnih mera.
Preuzimanje medija od strane saradnika i prijatelja vlasti, selektivna upotreba prava, zloupotreba regulatorne prakse, ciljano reklamiranje drΕΎavnih preduzeΔa, izdaΕ‘ne drΕΎavne subvencije prijateljskim medijima, verbalno nasilje, politizovana manipulacija zakonima, maltretiranje medija od strane poreskih organa, nekaΕΎnjivost pretnji protiv novinara – samo su neki od naΔina za kontrolu medijske scene u Srbiji.
IstiΔe se takoΔe da vlada Viktora Orbana i administracija Aleksandra VuΔiΔa Δine sve kako bi rasformirali institucionalnu kontrolu vlasti i centralizovali moΔ u svojim rukama. IzveΕ‘taj primeΔuje da su oba lidera imali koristi od evropske podrΕ‘ke i neefikasne domaΔe opozicije, ali i da je dominacija medijima samo poduprela njihov politiΔki uspeh.
Zamazivanje oΔiju Evropi
IzveΕ‘taj Freedom house navodi da je proces konsolidacije medijskog vlasniΕ‘tva u rukama ljudi od poverenja vlasti u MaΔarskoj gotovo zavrΕ‘en, jer je oko 80 procenata medija u vlasniΕ‘tvu saveznika vlasti. Taj proces u Srbiji prema ovom izveΕ‘taju nije toliko uspeΕ‘an, ali pretnje i pritisci na novinare su deo svakodnevice novinara u Srbiji.
Tamara Skrozza, novinar nedeljnika Vreme i agencije Fonet stoga za DW kaΕΎe da ocene iznete u ovom izveΕ‘taju ne predstavljaju neko veliko iznenaΔenje:
βSva relevantna istraΕΎivanja pokazuju pad medijskih sloboda u Srbiji, tako da sam ja oΔekivala moΕΎda i loΕ‘ije ocene od ovih iznetih u Freedom house izveΕ‘taju. Ono Ε‘to je zanimljivo je da drΕΎava veΔ nekoliko godina ne pokazuje nikakvu volju da na tom planu neΕ‘to uradi. Imali smo pokuΕ‘aj dijaloga vlasti sa medijskom zajednicom, sastavljanje nove radne grupe i pisanje nove medijske strategije- Ε‘to je u startu ispostavilo se bilo neustavno- i sve se to pokazalo samo kao pokuΕ‘aj da se zamaΕΎu oΔi Evropi i meΔunarodnim organizacijama koje se time bave”, istiΔe Skrozza.
Srbija u loΕ‘em druΕ‘tvu
KomentariΕ‘uΔi novi set neliberalnih alata za kontrolu medija profesor Fakulteta politiΔkih nauka Rade Veljanovski za DW kaΕΎe da je u cilju smanjivanja demokratskih kapaciteta i slobodnog izraΕΎavanja βuspostavljena stalna atmosfera straha u kojoj mediji strahuju da Δe ako omoguΔe kritiku vlasti to uticati na oglaΕ‘ivaΔe”.
SKOPJE, 06.05.2020 – The Association of Journalists of Macedonia strongly condemns the verbal threats against the journalist Mishko Ivanov, sent to him on the social network Facebook. Last night, immediately after the interviews with the leaders of VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM, Hristijan Mickoski and Zoran Zaev, a certain person called Boban Petrovski sent a message full of hate speech and threats to the journalist of TV24. After Ivanov posted the message on his Facebook profile, journalists Aneta Dodevska and Natasha Stojanovska also pointed out that lately they have been target of attacks as well, because messages with similar content have been sent to them too.
We call the Ministry of Interior immediately to open an investigation for these threats against our colleagues and to report the case to the Basic Public Prosecutorβs Office. Threats and hate speech are not part of the freedom of speech and can have serious consequences and cause self-censorship to the journalists. Only through strict sanctioning of such threats by the institutions we will be able to prevent future attacks and threats against journalists. The state has an obligation to provide an effective system of prevention and punishment of violence against journalists, because this is basic precondition to improve the situation with freedom of speech. Therefore, we insist that the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecutorβs Office immediately find a way to effectively investigate the threats.
We remind the public that if we want to have a functioning democracy we need a high level of freedom of speech and expression, and such a thing cannot be achieved if journalists and media workers work under constant pressure and threats, because that will only contribute to creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship.
These threats who represent an attack on freedom of information and freedom of the media will be reported to all national and international organizations dealing with the defense of freedom of expression.
With coronavirus pandemic in full blow, we talk to Borka Rudic of BHJA about its effects on media freedom in BiH. The pandemic reached the region in March, peaked in April and is now seemingly slowing down. It has taken over every daily routine: citizens are in lockdown, some countries introduced strict curfews, numbers of infected and deceased is increasing. In the middle of such unprecedented crisis, in countries of former Yugoslavia where transition to democracy and getting closer to the EU lingers, journalists and media are facing similar challenges. The most important is getting information of public interest to citizens and contribute to their safety and ending of the pandemic. While doing so, they are at risk too β not only from the virus.Β In a series of interviews SafeJournalists discusses how the pandemic influences media freedoms and journalists, are the authorities using the crisis to curb these freedoms and media owners to cut jobs. Finally, what their associations have done so far to help its members and other journalists now and in what follows.
THE STATE OF EMERGENCY: The state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic throughout BiH was declared on March 17Β –Β Β Republika Srpska has declared state of emergency while the Federation declared emergency situation. Since then, crisis staffs operating at the entity and cantonal levels have issued a series of measures and orders to reduce population movement and the possibility of transmission of the virus. Β Movement of people over 65 and under 18 years old are prohibited, all major shopping canters are closed, city transport suspended, store hours shortened and curfew introduced from 8 pm until 5 am. At the beginning of May this changed to 10 pm β 05 am Β Most employees are working from at homeβ¦ As far as the media is concerned, many newsrooms have introduced safety measures and offered their employees the option to work from home or in shifts, but there are also many journalists who continue to report on current events daily from the field. However, while in RS journalists are not allowed to leave towns, in Federation they are. Restriction of movement does not apply to journalists carrying an employerβs official confirmation that they are on duty.
SafeJournalists: As a secretary general of BHJA you are in constant touch with journalists from all over the country. What is the overwhelming sentiment among journalists about their ability to perform their duties at the time of pandemic? What are their main concerns?
Borka Rudic:Β One of the main concerns of people working in media was how to report from events attended by a large number of journalists and participants, primarily press conferences of crisis staff, governments, ministries, health institutions representatives etc. The possibility of spreading the virus was quite present. At the beginning many media workers didnβt have protective equipment. BHJA made several very clear requests to the Crisis Coordination bodies, BiH Presidency and the governments of BiH entities to set up a media pool and not organise large press conferences. The Presidency of BiH, the Council of Ministers and the entity governments responded positively to this proposal and took our initiative into action. Β Press conferences were moved online by web streaming and with a limited number of media present. Also, many public service broadcasters and private televisions stopped inviting guests to the studio, and communicate with them via Skype.
SF: Using modern communication tools that limit physical contact is becoming a practice. However, in countries like Serbia and North Macedonia journalist associations have notices dangers to public interest. In North Macedonia not all journalists can participate, while in Serbia journalists were for a while banned from the press conferences and questions could be asked only in advance via email. Is this format working in BiH?
Journalists waiting for a press conference to start. Source: N1.ba
BR: I know the situation in the region and must say that when we advocated for the media pool we had journalists’ safety in mind. It all started well, but now the idea that was supposed to protect reporters has turned into a form of censorship. Compared to Repubublika Srpska there were more problems in the Federation, including authorities not answering to questions sent by email or complete closure of press conferences. I noticed three phases in the process: Β First, the government responded well by forming media pools as a safe way of reporting, allowing web streaming to all media and unhindered access to interlocutors. All questions were read out, there was no selection. Then, as the number of the infected and the people who passed away started increasing, and all weaknesses of our health system came to light, the limitations started. Questions were pre-selected, many were ignored despite their importance and/or give vague half answers. Now in Sarajevo β Crisis Staff of Federation BiH we have a situation where three journalists – chosen by the media through consensus – are allowed presence at the conferences, while others send questions by email until 10 am and Crisis Staff decides what will be read out and answered.
SF: But the practice is not consistent, it differs among entities. How do you compare them?
BR: As it always is with BiH, there is no consistent practice country wide. Actually, in parts of Federation we have press conferences without journalists β like in Mostar where, in an unexpected and a move on the border of legality was made:Β the Crisis Staff banned journalists from the press conference completely. Why? Because journalists started asking questions about tender procedures for respirators, tests, medical kit, protective gear… questions that are of public interest. But the institutions are not happy, they always try to draw attention to the health crisis from and from the manner in which the budget is spent to fight it. We reacted strongly, requested Ombudsman intervention, but are still waiting to learn if the decision is overturned.
SF: There have been reports about potential abuse of the pandemic to further limit media freedoms. On March 19 Republika Srpska announced its intentions to fight disinformation and panic. Almost a month later, the Decree was withdrawn. What is the current situation?
BR:Β BHJA and other actors reacted strongly and advocated for its withdrawal because we recognised how it can be used against journalists. To be honest, I really didn’t expect that RS will withdraw its decision. We wrote to the Ministry of Interior asking about the status of the cases β the Ministry requested suspension of misdemeanour proceedings against 18 persons initiated under the Decree. It is important to note that all cases were against citizens. Still, before the pandemic, it was the Federation that had more media freedoms – now it is the other way around.
SF: What do you mean?
BR:Β In RS there is a centralised system that functions much better β the Crisis Staff has made it clear what are the responsibilities of the republic and what of of the municipalities. Journalists seem to be more satisfied with the access to information than in the Federation. It is not perfect, but compared to situation in the Federation it is better β there the questions are being avoided and the public is denied information or access to press conferences in a very direct manner. Regarding the RS Decree about fake news β quite soon after the RS decision to withdraw the Decree, in Stari Grad Sarajevo the Crisis Staff announced an order of βforbidding the presentation or transmission of fake news or allegations that cause panic or severely disrupt public order or peaceβ through βmedia outlets, social networks or other media of similar meansβ.Β The penalty envisaged up to 4,500 EUR for media and 1,500 EUR for citizens. So, while one part of the country recognised it has move away from such practice, in other β the same order is announced. Β At the same time the Government of the Federation of BiH, through the Ministry of the Interior Affairs and cyber criminal units started implementing measures that include monitoring and supervision of information shared through social networks.Β The key problem is that the police are given powers to decide what is and what is not spreading of false news ad panic and what is and what is not freedom of expression. That is unacceptable.
SF: What was BHJA reaction to this?
We reject congratulations, we want media freedom! BHJA May 3 announcement
BR: The state of emergency does not suspend media freedom and the rule of law! BHJA reacted publicly by issuing five protest letters and statements. We requested that all journalists are provided with requested information, to allow journalists to report in a fair, objective and balanced manner about issues of public interest. But, you see the situation changes day to day. It is not possible to react on all violation of media freedoms⦠I have a feeling that the struggle is still one step forward, two steps back, as I am afraid, it is all over the world when it comes to media freedoms.
SF: Β Then there are economic effects of the Covid-19. The survival of media is endangered in a way not seen before. There are talks about possible state aid to media to overcome the crisis. In other countries economic help packages, though with some resistance, included media. What is the situation in BiH?
BR: Β BHJA believes that the most important thing at this point is how to help the media outlets to survive economically. Since the beginning of the state of emergency, many have been left without significant funding sources. Withdrawal of large advertisers very quickly lead to layoffs in OslobodjenjeΒ in mid-April, with ten more media announcing similar measures.Β Together with the Centre for Civil Society Promotion we are going to organise an online conference focussed on economic measures to help media. An expert will be engaged to analyse the economic damage suffered by the media and based on the findings we will ask of our government to create a media help fund. Β We are also producing an online program whereas the representatives of the Council of Ministers will answer journalistsβ questions about economic support to media. It is very important to talk about this publicly as we believe that the government will establish funds and support media, but only those it controls politically and in a non-transparent way. Β The state must provide aid to media, if it doesnβt we will call upon all media to boycott press conferences and other events organised by the authorities.
SF: You have been following the situation closely. As in other countries, there protective gear is in short supplies. BHJA managed to secure a significant number masks for media professionals. How did you manage that?
FENA news agency with protective masks donated to BHJA by HIFA Petrol
BR: It is important to understand that once the protective masks arrived to Crisis Staff they were distributed to all but journalists. No one asked our colleagues in Konjic, Jablanica, Mostar, from small radio stations if they have or need them.Β With support of three private companies, Prevent Group, HIFA Petrol, Alumni company from Zenice, BHJA has distributed medical kits with 3,600 medical masks and 1000 pairs of protective gloves to around 250 media outlets within BiH.Β We are also in contact with women from Brcko, Konjic and Mostar who started producing home-made masks of very high quality. Β We are talking to them about purchasing medical masks for journalists and other media workers who live in their areas. I have to add that CSO Woman for WomanΒ from Konjic, recognising how important journalistsβ work is, Β distributed masks to media in Konjic and other towns free of charge.
SF: BHJA has also been very active online in promoting safety tips and guidelines.
BR:Β Indeed β we produced a series of press statements, videos, infographics, and guidelines for media professionals about reporting about Covid-19, but also Β what should editors and media managers pay attention to. Their reach was significant; it was shared not only in BiH but also in other countries of our region. The good thing is that we share the language. Since so many layoffs are expected we produced material, including a webinar, to raise awareness of what are the labour rights of journalists. We also supported IFJ, EFJ and ETUC Campaign to provide the special measures for the protection of journalists working in the field and within the media outlets, with a focus on journalistsβ safety, work in shifts, online work at home…
SF: BHJA is one of the first journalistsβ associations in the region to introduces systematic free legal aid. Free Media Help Line provides such aid to journalists, members of BHJA β what can you tell us about the type of advice BHJA provides now, during the pandemic?
Infographic explaining journalists what they must have if working during curfew.
BR:Β Our Free Media Help Line has been offering free legal aid and advice to media employees since 2004. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been contacted by 14 editors and journalists from nine media outlets. They reported different types of problems, form inability to obtain information of public interest from the crisis staff and health institutions, to banning journalists from press conferences, violation their freedom of movement to violation of labour rights. In all cases BHJA responded immediately and appealed to the competent authorities to enable all media outlets to have equal access to information of public interest, as in the example of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo. We also reacted alone and with the SafeJournalists.net in case of arbitrary decision by the policemen of Tuzla Canton to ban journalists from filming and recent pressures by Fahrudin Solak, director of the Federal Civil Protection Directorate against media that reported about suspicious purchase of respirators.
SF: Going back to journalists of BiH, members of your association – what are BHJA plans for the coming period? How will BHJA help its members to, at least, to minimise the effects of the pandemic?
BR:Β The most important thing is to continue with legal support and advice to our members, but that is not the only thing. We are negotiating with a team of experienced clinical psychologists to provide online psychological support and advice, as well as medical supportto journalists, freelance journalists, editors, cameramen and photojournalists. They are under high professional stress, working more than 12 hours a day in a very difficult circumstances. We are also talking with two associations of psychologists in Sarajevo Canton and in Banja Luka to help them to organise online support for journalists who need psychological support. We hope to get a project that will secure support to journalists and other media professionals up to 6 months after the pandemic, or the state of emergency, ceases. We expect that then β when we try to go back to normal, the problems and challenges, reaction to stress will hit us.
SF: We are entering May, the measures against Covid-19 worldwide are now under revision. But the effects of pandemic will be felt much longer. Are your concerned that there will be further limitations of media freedoms in post-Covid-19 world?
BR:Β The situation is a complex mixture of different challenges that doesnβt only effect journalists and not only media freedoms. Freedom of expression is at risk, too. In the Federation there are five cases reported to the cyber crime unit for fake news on social media and additional seven brought by the prosecutors in RS. All are against citizens. It is a very slippery road that can lead to illegal surveillance of journalists and citizens on social media. Its effect is limitation of freedom of expression. Censorship based on spreading Covid-10 related fake news and spreading panic must be fought in principle. We are calling for these cases to be dropped.
So we are fighting for media freedoms every day. Β It is not a phrase – we must do it from different positions: journalists, media, associations of journalists, CSOs – society as whole. In long term we have to invest a lot into this, but on daily basis, sometimes it is difficult because the government is using every option to limit media freedoms. We hope that the authorities in BiH will understand that the state of emergency and pandemic cannot be used as an excuse to introduce censorship, restrict freedom of access to information and media freedoms. And if it is, as the emergency ends we will fight for full re-introduction of all our rights and freedoms.
Borka Rudic isa professor of philosophy who began her journalism career in 1985 as a correspondent for Radio Sarajevo (BiH) and VeΔernji list from Zagreb (Croatia). From 1992 to 1995 she worked as a war reporter for RTV BiH and for the daily newspaper Oslobodjenje. In a long journalistic career Borka reported for numerous media outlets in the former Yugoslavia (Beta News Agency, Belgrade and political magazine Tjednik, Zagreb) as well as the National Danish Radio and Radio Free Europe. Borka was the first editor of OSCE Radio FERN in Sarajevo in 1996. She has been the manager of several media projects focusing on peace and trust building in the Balkan Region (Fresta Regional Radio Network, Project Together, etc.). In addition to her carer as a journalist, Borka worked as a professor of radio journalism at the High School of Journalism, as well as a certified trainer in the field of conflict resolution methods in journalism, journalistic ethics and diversity reporting.Β For the past 15 years, sheβs been a member of the BH Journalists Association team with daily commitments dedicated to the media freedoms and protection of journalists’ rights.
Association of BH JournalistsΒ is non-political and non-profit journalist association based in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina consisting of journalists, freelance journalists, journalism students and other media employees whose main profession is journalism. It provides free legal and advocacy support to Bosnian editors, staff or freelance journalists and other media outlets.
BRUXELLES, 05.05.2020. – Attacks on press freedom in Europe are at serious risk of becoming a new normal, 14 international press freedom groups and journalistsβ organisations, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), warn as they launch the 2020 annual report of the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalists. The fresh assault on media freedom amid the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened an already gloomy outlook.
The report analyses alerts submitted to the Platform in 2019 and shows a growing pattern of intimidation to silence journalists on the continent. The past weeks have accelerated this trend, with the pandemic producing a new wave of serious threats and attacks on press freedom in several Council of Europe member states. In response to the health crisis, governments have detained journalists for critical reporting, vastly expanded surveillance and passed new laws to punish βfake newsβ even as they decide themselves what is allowable and what is false without the oversight of appropriate independent bodies.
These threats risk a tipping point in the fight to preserve a free media in Europe. They underscore the reportβs urgent wake-up call on Council of Europe member states to act quickly and resolutely to end the assault against press freedom, so that journalists and other media actors can report without fear.
Although the overall response rate by member states to the Platform rose slightly to 60 percent in 2019, Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan β three of the biggest media freedom violators β continue to ignore alerts, together with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Platform recorded 142 serious threats to media freedom, including 33 physical attacks against journalists, 17 new cases of detention and imprisonment and 43 cases of harassment and intimidation.
The physical attacks tragically included two killings of journalists: Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland and Vadym Komarov in Ukraine. At the end of 2019, the Platform recorded 105 cases of journalists behind bars in the Council of Europe region, including 91 in Turkey alone. The situation has not improved in 2020. Despite the acute health threat, Turkey excluded journalists from a mass release of inmates in April 2020, and second-biggest jailer Azerbaijan has made new arrests over critical coverage of the countryβs coronavirus response.
PODGORICA, 04.05.2020. –Β The Agency for Electronic Communications of Montenegro (AEM) analyzed the program of six Montenegrin televisions with regional coverage and concluded that they also, when reporting, adequately conveyed the opinions of experts on the virus corona epidemic.
Previously, AEM analyzed national television programs and reached the same conclusion.
For the purposes of the analysis, from 11 to 17 April 2020, six television broadcasters with regional coverage were analyzed: TV 7, TV A1, Srpska TV, TV Novi, TV Sun and TV Corona.
The program of the six observed television broadcasters, on average, broadcasts a total of nine hours of news programs, predominantly dedicated to informing the public about the current COVID-19 epidemic.
“In contact shows, the topic of the current epidemiological situation has been dealt more dominant in the context of political, social and religious aspects than the professional medical aspect. One of the content by the guest presented alternative theories regarding the Covid-19 pandemic that were not based on officially and scientifically established and generally accepted facts. There have been no reports of information being transmitted that would violate the privacy rights of those affected by the new coronavirus and other individuals affected by these events”, it is said in the analysis.
According to the Agency, all the televisions monitored adequately directed viewers to the official information channels of the competent state services.
The programs of the observed television broadcasters did not contain content specially adapted for persons with disabilities.
“Almost 60% of the articles in the central news programs were related to information and topics related to the COVID-19 epidemic. In the observed news programs (32 content in total) there were 227 individual posts related to the current topic. There were 149 posts on all other topics”, is it written in the analysis.
