PODGORICA, 23.03.2020. – The Ombudsmans of daily newspapers “Dan” and “Vijesti”, weekly magazine “Monitor” and the Media Council for Self-Regulation (MSS) appealed to all journalists and the media to respect the highest professional and ethical standards in difficult and complex times like this. 

It is emphasized that at a time when it is difficult to remain calm, in conditions of limited movement and possibilities, partial or complete self-isolation, accurate and timely information is essential for the organized response of society to this challenge and prevention not only the spread of contagion, but also panic and the mess that can accompany it.

“The media therefore have a key role to play by ensuring true, rapid and responsible reporting of a pandemic that has dramatically changed the lives of millions around the world overnight”, the ombudsman’s announcement said.

They remind media employees that professional and ethical reporting has never been more important than today, the need to respect the principles of the Code of Journalists of Montenegro (KNCG) and the importance of professional coverage of the new corona virus and pandemic it has caused.

“We particularly emphasize the importance of adhering to Principles 1 and 7 of the KNCG and their guidelines regarding the obligation of accurate, complete and balanced reporting and the prohibition of sensationalism. It is of utmost importance to use a sufficient number of sources to verify the accuracy of published information”, it is stated.

It is important to respect, as they said, the privacy of the persons whose health status is being reported and the non-disclosure of their personal information (names, other identifying information), unless requested or disclosed by the sick person.

The public interest, it is estimated, has never been more important, so the number of likes and visits should not be a criterion for the publication of article.

“Because of all of the above, the Ombudsman of “Dan”, “Vijesti”, “Monitor” and MSS appealed to all journalists and the media to respect the highest professional and ethical standards in these difficult and complex times and to keep others from their writing in order to truly meet all the challenges that this time imposes, “the joint statement said.

The announcement was signed by Ombudsman of “Vijesti” and “Monitor”, Paula Petricevic, Ombudsman of “Dan”, Ilija Jovicevic and MSS Executive Secretary Ranko Vujovic.

PRISHTINË, 22.03.2020 – Asociacioni i Gazetarëve të Kosovës, me shqetësim ka pranuar njoftimin për tentim-sulmin ndaj gazetarit Berat Buzhala.

Buzhala përmes një postimi në llogarinë e tij në Facebook, ka treguar se gjatë ditës së djeshme, në Prishtinë, dy persona kanë tentuar ta sulmonin fizikisht.

“Meqe andej pari ka shume kamera, meqe kam fakte qe kunder meje po pergatitej nje sulm, une kete rast neser e coj ne polici” – ka shkruar ndër të tjera Buzhala.

Pas pranimit të informatave për këtë rast, AGK ka kontaktuar autoritetet për të marrë përgjigje zyrtare. Policia e Kosovës, në përgjigjen drejtuar AGK-së, ka bërë të ditur se është duke proceduar rastin dhe të gjitha veprimet hetimore janë në proces sipas procedurave ligjore dhe në konsultim me prokurorin kompetent.

Duke e konsideruar këtë akt të papranueshëm, AGK kërkon nga Policia e Kosovës dhe të gjithë ata që janë të thirrur për të mbrojtur dhe ruajtur rendin e ligjin, hetim të menjëhershëm që kryerësit e kësaj vepre të dalin sa më parë para drejtësisë.

SARAJEVO, 21.03.2020. – The Steering Committee of the BH Journalists Association (BHJA) sends a public protest to Mr. Fahrudin Radoncic, Chairman of the Coordination Body of BiH for Protection and Rescue and the Minister of Security of BiH, for attempting political manipulation and misinterpretation of the legitimate request of the BHJA to create a media pool, epidemiologically and health-safe conditions for the work of journalists who follow the developments in relation to the coronavirus in Sarajevo and other BH cities.

By calling for the formation of a media pool, BH Journalists did not seek any privilege for media crews, but safe working conditions, as required and recommended by all international health and media organizations and associations, but also by the government of BiH, crisis headquarters and civil protection institutions. Examples of organizing press conferences in a safe manner, without gathering a large number of media crews exist in Europe, but also in Bosnia and Herzegovina – in Banja Luka, where in the last seven days there has been sharing public information without convening journalists in one room and using effective online communication tools and channels, or in the capital of BiH, where the Council of Ministers tries with the BHRT, as a public service broadcaster, to find the best and safest ways to organize press conferences.

It is completely unacceptable for us at the Steering Committee of BH Journalists that Mr. Radoncic tries to collect political points by confronting the protection of journalists and all other BiH citizens in such a way that they are more or less important than others. A simple, justified and reasonable request by the journalists’ association for the protection of journalists, cameramen and photojournalists is based on the fact that some of our colleagues are self-isolated and unable to perform professional tasks due to attending press conferences or other public gatherings. We also emphasize that without healthy and protected media professionals, it will not be possible to adequately inform or educate the citizens of BiH about the necessary measures and protection they need to take to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Steering Committee of BH Journalists warns Mr. Radoncic that he will bear the responsibility himself if any more media professionals become infected during press conferences that will not be organized in a proper and safe manner.

PRISHTINË, 21.03.2020 – Asociacioni i Gazetarëve të Kosovës e mirëpret veprimin e sotëm të qeverisë së Kosovës që konferenca e organizuar rreth Pandemisë, të respektojë kriteret e kërkuara dje nga AGK, si masë mbrojtëse për shëndetin e kolegëve tanë që i përcjellin të gjitha zhvillimet rreth Virusit Corona.

AGK kërkon edhe nga institucionet e tjera që të veprojnë ngjashëm duke mbajtur konferenca në hapësira ku sigurohen foltore dhe distanca e rekomanduar ndërmjet kolegëve tanë dhe zyrtarëve. Në këtë mënyrë të gjithë mund të ndihmojnë njëri-tjetrin në këtë periudhë të vështirë, sidomos për kolegët tanë, që çdo ditë gjatë raportimit të tyre janë në rrezik potencial të infektimit nga Virusi Covid 19.

SARAJEVO, 21.03.2020. – The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has informed the BH Journalists Association that they are taking all necessary measures to ensure the protection of journalists and other media professionals during the duration of an emergency caused by a coronavirus pandemic.

– Bearing in mind the current situation with the emergence of coronavirus in BiH and precisely to avoid gathering more journalists in one place, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of BiH – Information Service has initiated activities to organize statements by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH and ministers. Cooperation with the BHT1 public service has been established, and the Chairmen and ministers have been informed. The measures would be live broadcast, sharing signals and recording certain messages related to suppressing the spread of coronavirus – according to the Information Service of the Council of Ministers of BiH.

The Information Service of this institution will also use all available communication tools and channels in order to reach the information to all media outlets and citizens who need to be informed in a timely manner.

– At the same time, please appeal to media outlets to take care of their employees while respecting all preventive measures of the competent institutions, as well as your recommendations. We are particularly pleased that we are thinking the same when it comes to protecting our colleagues and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina – says a letter from the Council of Ministers addressed to the BH Journalists Association.

The Steering Committee of BH Journalists yesterday called on representatives of relevant state institutions to ensure that media teams follow current events related to the coronavirus pandemic in a way that will not pose a health risk to participants in those events. One of the proposed measures is the formation of a media pool in Sarajevo, which will be the venue for all official press conferences to present the latest data and measures taken regarding the coronavirus.

SARAJEVO, 19.03.2020. – The President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, published a message on the EFJ website stating that it is inadmissible to restrict journalists’ free access to information during the COVID-19 pandemic:

“We are all affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, and we all have a responsibility to cope with this crisis.

In this very challenging time, journalism has a vital role in informing the public with fact-based data. A lot of tips and professional advice has circulated to reduce the spread of dis- and misinformation. It is now that worried people look out for trusted news.

COVID-19 is developing at global scale, and with disinformation and nationalistic, even racist rhetoric on the rise, independent journalism is systemically relevant for our democracies. We cannot accept any measures trying to limit the free media, because it would harm both democracy in general and the citizens suffering from COVID-19 in particular.

As the EFJ was informed about numerous restrictions regarding journalists’ access to information, we remind that all journalists must retain their freedom of movement, have full access to press conferences taking place all over Europe and to all information coming from the authorities including scientific data and recommendations and other background material leading to the decisions made by political leaders.

Taking into account important emergency measures, authorities must use bigger rooms for press conferences or find other (digital) means. We are very concerned that this crisis has already provoked governments to restrict free expression and attempts to silence critical voices.

If needed, Journalists must receive medical protection. At the same time with increased economic hardship, cancelled sports and culture events, many in particular freelance journalists lack assignments and thus income. We urge governments together with employer organisations and the trade unions to take action and to secure the income for all workers, both employees and freelancers. Now social dialogue should show its relevance.

Media and journalists have a big responsibility to hold power accountable, and everybody – also the authorities must understand that it is in the public interest that journalists are asking critical questions and are investigating how and on what basis politicians make their decisions. The EFJ will be looking carefully at the measures taken and will report anything conflicting with press freedom. Integrity and decency are required from authorities in this unprecedented time.”

Mogens Blicher Bjerregård

EFJ President

PODGORICA, 19.03.2020. – Crnogorska Agencija za elektronske medije (AEM) pozdravila je profesionalan i društveno odgovoran odnos crnogorskih medija i operatora u suočavanju Crne Gore sa koronavirusom COVID-19.

“S obzirom da su potvrđeni prvi slučajevi infekcije ovim virusom u Crnoj Gori, još jednom apelujemo na medije da poštuju profesionalne standarde i da obezbijede istinito informisanje, zasnovano na provjerenim informacijama i na taj način smanje mogućnost širenja lažnih vijesti koje mogu izazvati paniku”, piše u saopštenju.

Iz AEM-a podsjećaju medije da moraju voditi računa o zabrani otkrivanja identiteta oboljelih od virusa ili eventualnih žrtava, neposredno ili posredno, riječju ili slikom, što uključuje imena oboljelih, njihova mjesta stanovanja, stepen obrazovanja, mjesta zaposlenja i slično.

“U tom smislu podsjećamo medije:

-Zabranjeno je ugrožavanje privatnosti pojedinca, objavljivanjem informacija o privatnom životu bez njegovog znanja i pristanka, osim u slučaju nedvosmislenog postojanja opravdanog javnog interesa;

-Kad su u pitanju maloljetnici, zabranjeno je objavljivanje informacije kojom se otkriva identitet maloljetnika i iznošenje pojedinosti iz porodičnih odnosa i privatnog života djeteta.

-Mediji su dužni su da dosljednom primjenom profesionalnih i etičkih standarda novinarskog kodeksa na primjeren način realizuju obavezu informisanja javnosti i potrebu za iskazivanjem saosjećanja, uz eliminisanje rizika od senzacionalizma;

-Osobe u stanju bola ili šoka ne smiju biti izložene pritisku da daju intervjue ili učestvuju u RTV programima”, piše u preporukama.

Za ovu priliku iz AEM-a su izradili i Uputska i preporuke za novinarsko izvještavanje o COVID-19, pa su pozvali medijske profesionalce da se sa njim upoznaju.