Media laws and journalists: No rights and obligations are stipulated

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21/01/2018

PODGORICA, 21.01.2018 – Media laws in Montenegro, unlike those in the region, do not specifically regulate the position of journalists and their rights and obligations, nor do they provide any legal protection from the management structure and advertisers.

“Analysis of the position of local public broadcasters and journalists in media laws of Montenegro”, prepared by Prof. Sandra Bašić-Hrvatin, PhD and Goran Đurović, contains analysis of these rights, an overview of good practice in the countries of the European Union, and recommendations for improvement of regulations regarding protection of journalists’ rights.

The exception from this practice in national legislation presents only Article 14 of the Law on National Public Broadcaster Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) which stipulates that: “Journalists employed in RTCG are independent in their work and act in the public interest. A journalist cannot be cancelled employment, reduced salary, or his/her status in the newsroom can be changed, or responsibility established for an attitude or opinion expressed in accordance with professional standards and program regulations.”

In addition to failure to stipulate basic rights and obligations, the regulations do not include mechanisms for protecting journalists/editors from the influence of media owners. So there is no obligation to sign an appropriate act by owner(s) and a journalist to ensure that owner(s) will not interfere with media content editing.

“This is combined with an uncertain financial position, low salaries, limited career advancements, so journalists and editors often accept influence of an ownership structure on media content editing. Generally, they are not willing to talk about their position and working conditions, and they decide to take this step only when they get fired”, states the Analysis.

Salaries of journalists are below the average salary on the state level, which, according to Monstat data, amounted to 510 Euros in June 2017, and those low salaries are in some cases late, which most often happens to employees in local public broadcasters and private media.

Non-payment of contributions, illegal employment, overtime and work during holidays are just some of the problems that media employees face. In addition to economic ones, journalists also face problems when dealing with their professional status in a newsroom. They are increasingly being overburdened, especially because of demands from a journalist to cover several areas. They are often tasked to do something that is not part of their job description, such as editing, lay-outing, taking photos, photo processing, etc.

“Journalists do not speak openly about pressures they face with in their daily work, but those ready to speak point out that each editorial board has a “list of desirable” interlocutors, and that journalists face self-censorship in terms of knowing which topics they can cover depending on the editorial media policy. Imposed interlocutors and topics limit journalists in their work, and interviewed journalists explain that “self-censorship exists when you have to choose a topic within the frameworks of the media where you work or – just do not “rock the boat” and you will not have major problems”, states the Analysis.

Examples of good practice include two former members of Yugoslavia, now members of the EU, – Croatia and Slovenia. Both countries recognise in their legislation the minimum standard of media statute which ensures certain level of journalistic autonomy in relation to an employer through participation in an election or dismissal of an editor-in-chief and through “conscience clause” which gives a journalist the possibility to reject, under certain conditions, editor’s or owner’s order without any material consequences.

Thus, the Statute, as a mechanism of protection of journalist autonomy, and a clause of conscience, as a mechanism for protecting those who warn of censorship, should be defined in the Law on Media along with mechanisms that guarantee their implementation. The minimum Statute standards and the clause to be defined within the Law also need to be aligned with the Labour Law in order to avoid legal uncertainties and arbitrary interpretations.

The Analysis notes that Slovenia and Croatia are among rare states that provide to their journalists such legal autonomy. International journalists associations consider these practices as the highest standards that need to be introduced into national legislations in order to protect media integrity. What is lacking in both legislations is the clear definition of effective measures for the implementation of these legal norms.

The Analysis provides remarks from the EU, which are well recognized in the media scenes of Montenegro and the region, that journalists are under increasing pressure from the so-called “soft censorship”, based on an invisible (at least for the public) links between the interests of media owners and politics (political instrumentalization of media), which result in limiting journalists in their work.

“When journalists have an uncertain labour-legal relations, when their economic and social security depends on the interests of advertisers and various formal and informal centers of power, it is hard to expect that they will be able to perform their work in the public interest. It is therefore, of high importance that professional journalists’ associations and journalists’ trade unions develop an efficient network of mechanisms for assistance and public warning to the problems that exist in journalism and to direct their activities to defining journalists work, within legislation, as the public interest. Media integrity (professional and personal commitment of journalists to the public interest) is the basic guarantor of freedom of expression”, states the Analysis.

In order to improve the legislation regarding protection of the rights of journalists, Bašić-Hrvatin and Đurović recommended that within Law on Media mechanisms for protecting the professional interests of journalists and editors in creating/editing media content should be prescribed, as well as to specify the right of the journalist to reject editor’s order under certain conditions.

It is also recommended that amendments to the Law on Media should be used to prescribe the obligation for media founders to cover the costs of court proceedings related to journalistic work (based on compliance with professional standards) and contributions made within his/her duties and based on the editor’s decision – lawsuits or civil lawsuits for journalistic work.

Representatives of the OSCE Missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a discussion with journalist from Zenica

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BHJA

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19/01/2018

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SARAJEVO, 18.01.2018.-Local media are under economic, and often political pressure, says a journalists who participated in the conversation with representatives of the OSCE Mission in our country on the issue of strengthening the capacity of journalists.

It is necessary to educate journalists on protection mechanisms, ethical standards, the application of laws that regulate freedom of expression, as well as educating politicians about accountability towards citizens and their attitude towards the media, said Velida Kulenovic, journalist of the Radio FBiH and president of the BHN Club in Zenica.

The economic dependence of local media influences their work, and continuous education of journalists is necessary, as well as greater mutual solidarity, says the editor of TV Zenica Sinan Gluhic. During the conversation, the need for monitoring of court proceedings related to the application of the Law on Protection against Defamation was emphasized, while journalists Harun Bošnjak (BHT) and Adnan Džonlić (Zenicablog) spoke about the “slow” nature of the judicial authorities in cases of reporting and prosecution attacks on journalists. According to Mirsad Bajtarevic, journalist BHR1, professional and fair reporting, as well as the application of laws regulating freedom of expression, are important for the work of journalists.

There was also a talk about the election period and pressures that media and journalists were exposed at that time, so Enes Begičević, a journalist at FENA, stressed the need to educate politicians in relation to the media and journalists, especially in the election period.
It was also discussed the transparency of spending of funds for the media from the budget, reports of attacks on journalists and education of young journalists.

The OSCE Mission will continue activities related to working with journalists, told Anja-Leyli Hessarbani ahead of the OSCE mission. “The aim of today’s meeting was to get acquainted with the state of the media and the needs of journalists in Zenica. The OSCE Mission recognizes the importance of local media in timely reporting, and that’s why we will continue to work with journalists in order to make the journalists work better,” added Hessarbani.

International media freedom delegation in Croatia: some improvements, old and new issues

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CJA

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18/01/2018

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ZAGREB, 18.01.2018. – After the fact-finding mission in June 2016 produced particularly bad results (please find here the report), the representatives of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Reporters without Borders (RSF) did find a slightly more positive situation at the beginning of 2018.

First of all, the new conservative–liberal (HDZ–HNS) coalition at least has media freedom as a matter of the utmost importance for a member state of the European Union on its agenda. However, “it still has a long way to go“, says Oliver Vujovic of SEEMO.

Pauline Adès-Mével of RSF stressed that it’s not a good sign if a delegation visits a member country of the European Union twice in two years. “Now ranked 74th in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, Croatia has fallen steadily in the index since joining the European Union in 2013, by a total of ten places in less than five years. It must be hoped that Croatia will not take the same road as Bulgaria, which began falling as soon as it joined the EU in 2007 and now has the worst ranking of any EU member.”

In meetings with the President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Minister of Culture of Croatia Nina Obuljen Koržinek, trade unions, journalists’ associations and professional organisations, journalists, media authorities and ambassadors the criticisms were:

– Various sources claim that biased reporting and internal governance of the public service HRT haven’t really changed since 2016. We did identify several problems and unresolved questions. Due to illnesses in both the HRT management and one of the relevant journalists’ associations, the delegation could not check these concerns on the spot. But there are some encouraging signs, too. By all means, HRT is not only under political pressure, but also under attack by different interest groups demanding to interfere in editorial and management decisions. Boris Bergant of EBU stressed that this shows “a fundamental misunderstanding of the role and function of public service media in the society.” The Minister of Culture promised to improve the legislation.

– The destructive influence of hate speech on society has actually increased. Even though there are no extremist parties in the parliament, the public space seems to be poisoned by daily verbal attacks, including on journalists. “We were quite astonished to find that the Agency for Electronic Media considered all 30 of the hate speech complaints in 2017 as not being hate speech. In 2016 there was one single case that was recognised as such. Croatia desperately needs to deal with the problem hate speech”, says Sophie Albers Ben Chamo of the ECPMF. The delegation urged the President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to use her position to speak out decisively against incitement and threats of all kinds.

– The delegation praised the work of the Croatian police, as they have recently arrested more persons who physically attacked journalists, compared to the past. However physical attacks, threats and especially online threats against journalists are still a big problem.

– Still there is no media strategy. The Minister of Culture Nina Obuljen Koržinek announced that her ministry is taking care of the law on media as well as the law on electronic media.

– Part of this strategy should also include the support of non-profit media whose state subsidies were completely cut off by the former government. Their situation hasn’t changed since then.

– Also an issue that needs to be examined is media ownership. “In many cases media ownership is not transparent. One prominent person, not active in media business owns a series of media. A foreign group with unknown owners controls a few regional and local media.”, says Otmar Lahodynsky of AEJ.

– Finally, journalists’ working conditions haven’t improved. “Trade unionists are discriminated and dismissed, collective agreements exist only in few media, and they aren’t negotiated collectively. Journalists are forced not to write about some topics, and there are no trade union organisations in numerous private media”, says Marijana Camovic of EFJ.

The preparation and the swift implementation of this visit must be credited to the support of the local partner of the European Federation of Journalists, the Croatian Journalists Assocation (HND).

The delegation will issue a detailed report by the end of February 2018.

Serbia: Fact-finding mission on media freedom and journalists’ rights

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IJAS

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18/01/2018

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BELGRADE, 18.01.2018. – This morning, 18 January 2018, the joint Fact-Finding Mission to Serbia on media freedom and journalists’ rights commences by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in cooperation with the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and the International Press Institute (IPI) as well as the EFJ affiliates in Serbia: the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), and the Journalists’ Union of Serbia (SINOS).

The two-day mission will meet with government representatives including the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, the Ministry of Culture’s State Secretary, the Assistant Minister for Information and Media and the state secretary for the Ministry of Justice. The delegation will also meet with a range of journalists, including victims of intimidation, and representatives from print and online news outlets, agencies, and public service and private broadcasters. In addition, the Serbian Press Council, the ombudsman and international stakeholders will also meet the delegation.

The delegation will be led by EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregard. The mission will end with a press conference on Friday at 15.00 by Mogens Blicher Bjerregard, general secretary of SEEMO Oliver Vujovicand Scott Griffen, deputy director at the IPI.

Recommendations for further action will follow the mission.

Ustavni sud usvojio žalbu optuženih za ubistvo Ćuruvije

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IJAS

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18/01/2018

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BEOGRAD, 18.01.2018. – Ustavni sud Srbije usvojio je ustavne žalbe dvojice nekadašnjih pripadnika Državne bezbednosti Milana Radonjića i Ratka Romića, optuženih za ubistvo novinara Slavka Ćuruvije, pošto je utvrdio da im je povređeno pravo na ograničeno trajanje pritvora, pa je njihova odbrana zatražila ukidanje pritvora.

Radonjić i Romić u pritvoru su bili tri i po godine, od 13. januara 2014. godine do 6. jula 2017. godine, a prvostepeno suđenje je im je i dalje u toku i nastavljeno je u Specijalnom sudu u Beogradu.

Oni su od jula u kućnom pritvoru sa elektronskim nadzorom. Njihov zajednički branilac, advokat Zora Dobričanin Nikodinović, rekla je danas na suđenju da je u svojoj odluci Ustavni sud konstatovao da je rešenjenima Specijalnog suda iz 2015. godine, kao i rešenjima Apelacionog suda u Beogradu iz 2015. godine protivno Ustavu Srbije okrivljenima produžavan pritvor.

Ćuruvija ubijen sa 14 metaka

Na taj način su im povređena ustavna i zakonska prava na ograničeno trajanje pritvora, rekla je Dobričanin Nikodinović podnoseći ovu odluku sudskom veću kojim presedava sudija Snežana Jovanović kao dokaz. Prethodno je na suđenju trebalo da svedoči Nenad Radović kojeg je predložila odbrana kao pripadnika obezbeđenja Dnevnog telegrafa.

Radović je međutim tvrdio da nikada nije radio kao obezbeđenje Dnevnog telegrafa, već da se bavio autodelovima, navodeći da ne poznaje ni optužene niti da je poznavao Ćuruviju.

Živaljević: Nisam pratio Ćuruviju

Odbrana je negodovala zbog njegovog iskaza, tvrdeći da su do njega došli na osnovu iskaza drugih svedoka i predložila sudu da obavi njihovo suočavanje. Nastavak suđenja zakazan je za mart, kada će se izvoditi pisani dokazi.

Pored Radonjića i Romića, za ubistvo Đuruvije 11. aprila 1999. godine u centru Beograda sudi se i nekadašnjem šefu DB- a Radomiru Markoviću, kao i pripadniku rezervnog sastava DB- a Milanu Kuraku, koji se tereti da je neposredni izvršilac ubistva. Marković u zatvoru služi kaznu od 40 godina zatvora, a Kurak je u bekstvu i za njim je raspisana međunarodna poternica.

Radonjić i Marković se terete za podstrekavanje na teško ubistvo, a Romić i Kurak za teško ubistvo u saizvršilaštvu.

Praćenje prekinuto baš na dan ubistva

Prema optužnici, Ćuruviju je 11. aprila 1999. godine ubio Miroslav Kurak, a saučesnik mu je bio Ratko Romić koji je drškom pištolja udario Ćuruvijinu prijateljicu Branku Prpu u glavu.

Kako se navodi u optužnici, Ćuruvija je ubijen zbog “javnog istupanja u zemlji i inostranstvu i kritike nosilaca političke vlasti, mogućnosti da utiče na javno mnjenje i delovanje opozicionih društvenih snaga, radi očuvanja postojeće vlasti”.

Ubijen je u dvorištu ispred ulaza u zgradu, gde su se nalazile prostorije marketing službe Dnevnog telegrafa

Čeda na saslušanju zbog pretnji novinaru Kurira

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IJAS

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18/01/2018

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BEOGRAD, 18.01.2018. – Poziv Policija je načinila službenu belešku, koju će proslediti nadležnom tužilaštvu, odakle će verovatno biti naloženo da se otvori predistražni postupak i sasluša Čedomir Jovanović, lider LDP, saznaje Kurir u MUP-u.

Lider Liberalno-demokratske partije Čedomir Jovanović uskoro će biti pozvan na saslušanje u policiju zbog ugrožavanja sigurnosti novinara Kurira Bobana Karovića, kome je pretio da će mu „polomiti pi*ku” zbog objavljivanja tekstova o njegovim vezama sa „zemunskim klanom”.

– Policija je načinila službenu belešku, koju će proslediti tužilaštvu, odakle će, prema proceduri, biti naloženo da se otvori predistražni postupak i sasluša Jovanović – kazao je za Kurir izvor iz MUP.

Naime, Čedomir Jovanović je u ponedeljak pozvao mobilnim telefonom novinara Kurira i tražio njegovu kućnu adresu da bi, kako je rekao, odmah došao ili „poslao nekog po njega da raščiste neke stvari“, a sve to je začinio konstantnim pretnjama da će novinaru „polomiti pi*ku“.

Lider LDP je pobesneo zbog teksta u Kuriru u kojem je Mihajlo Ulemek, stric Milorada Ulemeka Legije, izjavio da je „Jovanovića video tri-četiri puta u kući Dušana Spasojevića u Šilerovoj”, kao i da su ga ozloglašeni „zemunci” zvali Ciganče. Ulemek je juče ponovio za Kurir da stoji iza svojih reči objavljenih u našem listu.

– Sramno je što je pretio vašem novinaru koji je samo pošteno obavljao svoj posao i preneo moje reči – izjavio je Ulemek. Lider LDP prekjuče je sramno slagao da broj sa koga su upućene pretnje novinaru Kurira nije njegov, iako postoje brojni dokazi koji potvrđuju suprotno. Kada se u toku dana saznalo za njegove pretnje, Jovanović je, povrh svega, ugasio taj broj!

Veze sa „zemuncima”

O vezama Jovanovića sa „zemunskim klanom“, ali i osuđenim pripadnicima rasformirane Jedinice za specijalne operacije, u javnosti se govori više od 15 godina. Optužbe na njegov račun, od toga da je zapravo bio prvi čovek „zemunaca“ i šef Dušanu Spasojeviću i Miletu Lukoviću, pa do toga da je direktno učestvovao u ubistvu premijera Zorana Đinđića, iznosili su kako osuđivani „zemunci“ i „crvene beretke”, tako i mnogobrojni državni funkcioneri. Uprkos tim svedočenjima, nikada nije do kraja istražena povezanost i eventualna saradnja Jovanovića sa najozloglašenijim kriminalnim klanom na ovim prostorima.

Aleksandar Gajović, državni sekretar za medije – nema opravdanja

Aleksandar Gajović, državni sekretar za medije u Ministarstvu kulture, podsetio je na Zakon o javnom informisanju, u kome se navodi da se „pe sme ugrožavati slobodan protok informacija putem medija, kao ni uređivačka autonomija, a naročito ne vršenjem pritiska, pretnjom, odnosno ucenom urednika, novinara ili izvora informacija”.

– Nikada nisam opravdavao pretnju, nedoličan rečnik ili nekulturno ponašanje, i to ne samo kad je reč o novinarima već prema svakoj osobi bilo koje profesije. Taj i takav stav uvek zastupam, bez obzira na to o kome je reč i čime je pretnja izazvana – naveo je Gajović za Kurir.

Ulemek: Sramno je što je pretio vašem novinaru koji je samo pošteno obavljao svoj posao i preneo moje reči.

Da li će proces digitalizacije preživjeti sve televizije u BiH?

By

BHJA

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18/01/2018

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SARAJEVO, 18.01.2018.-Da bi jedna televizija emitovala digitalni signal potrebno je da posjeduje studijsku opremu za proizvodnju digitalnog signala, a opremanje jedne televizije osnovnom tehnikom može da košta od 100.000 do 1.000.000 maraka.

Nijedan od zacrtanih rokova za završetak procesa digitalizacije u Bosni i Hercegovini nije do sada ispoštovan. Iako u Ministarstvu prometa i komunikacija BiH kažu da se najviše vremena gubi na žalbene postupke prilikom javnih nabavki, ni stanje na terenu nije nimalo zadovoljavajuće: digitalizacija predstavlja ogroman finansijski zalogaj za niskobudžetne televizije i bit će pravo čudo ukoliko digitalizaciju „prežive“ sve televizije, prije svega one lokalnog karaktera.

Uvođenje digitalne zemaljske televizije u Bosni i Hercegovini, razdoblje prelaska s analognog na digitalno zemaljsko emitovanje i gašenje analogne televizije je obaveza Bosne i Hercegovine koja treba biti urađena u skladu s međunarodnim sporazumima iz te oblasti.

Prva faza Projekta digitalizacije podrazumijeva digitalizaciju prijenosne mreže (linkova) na relaciji Sarajevo – Mostar i Sarajevo – Banja Luka sa digitalizacijom centara za kontribuciju i distribuciju signala u Sarajevu, Mostaru i Banjoj Luci, a nakon toga i uvezivanje pet informativno-tehničkih centara (ITC Istočno Sarajevo, ITC Zenica, ITC Tuzla, ITC Bijeljina i ITC Brčko) u sistem digitalnih veza.

U prvu fazu Projekta spadaju i odašiljači za inicijalno pokrivanje digitalnim signalom gradova Sarajeva, Mostara i Banje Luke, čime se omogućilo testno emitiranje digitalnog signala na području ta tri grada.

Prva faza digitalizacije završena krajem 2016. godine

Prva faza Projekta digitalizacije je službeno okončana 14. oktobra 2016. godine puštanjem zemaljskog radiotelevizijskog digitalnog signala. U ovu fazu je uloženo 7.457.300 KM, od čega 7.057.300 KM za javne RTV servise i 400.000 KM za Radio HB.

Druga faza Projekta digitalizacije obuhvata uvezivanje 11 informativno-tehničkih centara: ITC Bihać, ITC Prijedor, ITC Doboj, ITC Livno, ITC Trebinje, ITC Posušje, ITC Goražde, ITC Orašje, ITC Travnik, ITC Neum i ITC Foča sa pripadajućim linkovskim vezama u integrisan sistem digitalnih veza javnih RTV servisa u Bosni i Hercegovini, kao i unaprjeđenje segmenta mobilnog prijenosa s terena nabavkom Up linka za digitalno satelitsko skupljanje vijesti za potrebe sistema javnog emitiranja u Bosni i Hercegovini. Ta faza obuhvata i osiguranje međunarodnih linkovskih veza sa Hrvatskom, Srbijom, Crnom Gorom i Slovenijom, još je u toku, i za to je namijenjeno 10.400.000 KM.

Prva i Druga faza Projekta digitalizacije podrazumijeva pokrivanje oko 80 posto ukupnog područja Bosne i Hercegovine digitalnim signalom.

Treća faza Projekta digitalizacije predstavlja pokrivanje preostalog dijela područja Bosne i Hercegovine (oko 20 posto) digitalnim signalom, a to bi trebalo biti urađeno odašiljačima male snage tzv. „gap filler“. Takav projekt s procjenom potrebnih sredstava su Ministarstvu dostavili javni RTV servisi i upućen je u redovni postupak usvajanja.

Ministarstvo: Proces usporavaju žalbe prilikom javnih nabavki

Mnogo je faktora koji utječu na brzinu realizacije procesa digitalizacije, ali je činjenica da se najviše vremena izgubi u žalbenim postupcima, tvrde u Ministarstvu, dodajući da se žalbe ulažu u svim fazama javnih nabavki opreme, kako u toku otvorenog poziva, tako i u završnoj fazi procesa javnih nabavki.

„Ministarstvo komunikacija i prometa Bosne i Hercegovine u svojstvu nosioca aktivnosti na realizaciji procesa digitalizacije planira okončanje Druge faze do polovine tekuće godine, pri čemu ističemo da Ministarstvo nema mogućnosti utjecati na vrijeme okončanja žalbenih postupaka, a zatim se nastavlja Treća faza, koja se u najboljoj situaciji može realizovati do kraja tekuće godine“, objašnjavaju.

Navode i da je Ministarstvo osiguralo sve projekte i kompletna potrebna financijska sredstva za realizaciju procesa digitalizacije u standardu DVB-T2 za izgradnju digitalne mreže MUX-a A, kao i da je Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine, na prijedlog Ministarstva, uvrstilo Projekt digitalizacije u višegodišnje kapitalne investicije Bosne i Hercegovine.

Kada je riječ o samim medijima, da bi jedna televizija emitovala digitalni signal potrebno je da posjeduje studijsku opremu za proizvodnju digitalnog signala. To znači da mora osposobiti vlastite produkcijske kapacitete i proizvedeni signal dopremiti do jednog od tri Headenda (Sarajevo, Banjaluka, Mostar). Signal se dalje prenosi digitalnom mrežom MUX-a A (u narednom razdoblju i MUX-a B) po uvjetima koje propiše Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije i to pojedinačnim dozvolama za svaki medij. Kada se okonča Druga faza Projekta digitalizacije, u svakoj digitalnoj oblasti – a ima ih devet – emitirat će se po 16 programa.

Digitalni signal trenutno emituju četiri televizije

Od 41 televizijske stanice (12 javnih i 29 privatnih) u Bosni i Hercegovini koje su nosioci dozvola Regulatorne agencije za komunikacije za zemaljsko emitovanje, digitalni signal se trenutno emituje tek u tri digitalne oblasti (Sarajevo, Banjaluka i Mostar), a emituju ga tri javna RTV servisa u Bosni i Hercegovini – BHRT, RTRS, RTV FBiH i privatna televizija K3.

Dana 14. oktobra 2016. godine u 12 sati u RTV Domu u Sarajevu i Zgradi RTRS u Banjoj Luci pušten je testni digitalni signal u digitalnim oblastima Sarajeva, Banja Luke i Mostara čime je i zvanično okončana Prva faza digitalizacije. Tog dana započeli su problemi za TV K3 iz Prnjavora.

„RTRS je dobio dozvolu da sa predajnika na Kozari emituje digitalni signal na kanalu 32. Međutim, na broju 32 nalazio naš kanal kojeg smo emitovali analogno putem predajnika Svinjar koji pokriva čitavu našu regiju i sa njega napajamo još šest predajnika. Kada su oni pustili digitalni signal sa Kozare, ugušili su naš signal i mi smo morali stati sa emitovanjem. Nakon toga, obavijestili smo Regulatornu agenciju i ubrzo je stigla njihova Komisija koja je konstatovala da se 2,5 km dalje od predajnika ne vidi naš signal. I od tada je krenula naša ‘borba’ da emitujemo digitalni signal“, objašnjava Branko Dakić, vlasnik televizije K3.

On govori da su 13 mjeseci trajali pregovori između televizije K3, RTRS-a i RAK-a, no da nije pronađeno rješenje. U tom periodu, Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije je čak izrekla i novčanu kaznu u iznosu od 45.000 KM Radio televiziji Republike Srpske (RTRS), kao i novčanu kaznu u iznosu od 15.000 KM generalnom direktoru Radio televizije Republike Srpske, Drašku Milinoviću, kao odgovornom licu, zato što nisu postupili po nalogu Agencije da izvrše priključenje Televizije K3 iz Prnjavora na digitalno zemaljsko emitovanje u Multipleks-u A u digitalnom području Kozara.

„Ni to, međutim, nije pomoglo te smo, na kraju, mi pristali na uslove RTRS-a i napravili s njima ugovor da nas puste u digitalni sistem na Kozari. Taj ugovor RAK ne priznaje, smatraju ga nelegalnim i nama su rekli da nismo bili dužni to potpisati. Međutim, mi smo morali pristati da plaćamo preko 5.000 KM mjesečno kako bismo mogli emitovati naš signal sa Kozare. Radi se o privremenom rješenju do onog konačnog. Međutim, kako stvari idu, ove godine nećemo ništa uspjeti završiti“, kaže Dakić.

Pojedine televizije proces digitalizacije nisu ni započele

Kada je riječ o ostalim televizijama u Bosni i Hercegovini, Sandino Škrbić, direktor RTV Zenica, kaže da u toj medijskoj kući digitalizacija nikada nije pominjana.

„Apsolutno nije razmišljano u tom smjeru s obzirom na to da naše preduzeće trenutno muče neke druge finansijske poteškoće, kao što su tužbe radnika. U tom kontekstu, digitalizacija još nije došla na dnevni red. Mi smo nabavili televizijske enkodere koji će televizijski signal emitovati u HD signalu od 1. marta u kablovskom sistemu Telemacha. Međutim, kada je riječ o zemaljskom emitovanju, nažalost, još ništa nismo poduzimali po tom pitanju. Mi trenutno koristimo resurse RTV BiH i prema njima se i ‘ravnamo’. Kada oni budu spremni za taj korak i mi ćemo se prilagoditi“, ističe Škrbić.

Radiotelevizija Cazin je u početnoj fazi procesa digitalizacije. Trenutno je raspisan javni poziv bankama u vezi kreditnog zaduženja kojeg će finansirati Grad Cazin te vjeruju da će u 2018. godini okončati taj proces.

„Televizija je skupa ‘igračka’. Mislim da će se kroz proces digitalizacije izvršiti određeno filtriranje, pa će opstati samo oni koji ekonomski mogu podnijeti taj izazov. Ipak, vjerujem da će i RTV Cazin pratiti te trendove i da će u budućnosti postati i modernija televizija. Opredjeljenje gradskih vlasti u Cazinu je da televizija nastavi živjeti, ali i razvijati te povećavati broj uposlenih“, kaže Kenan Alagić, direktor televizije.

I Emir Cocalić, direktor privatne televizije KISS također smatra da će digitalizacija „pročešljati“ domaću televizijsku scenu.

„Krajnje je vrijeme da se tržište očisti od svega i svačega. Ljudima u BiH treba ponuditi priliku da gledaju kvalitetne domaće programe, jer je publika sa daljinskim u ruci na svojem kauču nemilosrdna i treba se izboriti za njihovu naklonost. Mi se trudimo da svakim danom radimo i proizvodimo kvalitetniji program, da unaprjeđujemo ono što imamo, a ujedno planiramo kupiti ono što nemamo. Mislim da će 2018. godina biti presudna za nas“, ističe Cocalić.

On kaže da je RTV KISS u fazi predpriprema, odnosno prikupljanja ponuda za opremu koju je potrebno nabaviti, kao i procesu kreiranja strategije u kom pravcu televizija treba krenuti.

„Kao i sve druge televizije, i mi se suočavamo sa konkurencijom kabla, odnosno da gledaoci biraju samo kvalitet i ono što ih interesuje. Mi se ‘takmičimo’ sa televizijama iz susjednih zemalja, ali i tematskim programima koji dolaze iz Evrope i svijeta, i sigurno nije lako. Ipak, smatram da za svakog postoji mjesto i za njega se potrebno izboriti. Dobili smo neke jeftinije ponude za digitalnu opremu u vrijednosti 5.000 KM. Međutim, studijske kamere koje imalo valjaju koštaju 20.000 KM. A morate imati najmanje dvije takve kamere. Zatim dolazi mikseta i brojna druga oprema. Sve u svemu, da se kupi solidna oprema cijena može ići od 100.000 do 1.000.000 KM“, govori Cocalić.

Šta će biti sa televizijama koje ne završe proces digitalizacije?

RTV Visoko signal emituje putem Moje TV, Telemacha i zemaljskih predajnika.

„Nedavno smo nabavili računar koji nam omogućava da ‘izlazimo’ digitalno, a trenutno smo u fazi nabavke digitalnog switcha putem kojeg bi prema kablovskim emiterima mogli slati digitalni signal. Kada je u pitanju zemaljski predajnik, tu nam je sva oprema analogna. Dakle, jednim dijelom smo spremni za digitalizaciju, no bit će potrebno nabaviti još opreme koja je dosta skupa, kako bismo u potpunosti završili taj proces“, govori Esmer Pita, iz Tehničkg odjela RTV Visoko.

Samir Kučanin, šef tehnike u RTV Vogošća, pak, kaže da je ta televizija u potpunosti spremna za digitalno emitovanje signala.

„Kada je riječ o ‘izlazu’ iz našeg studija i režiji, mi odnedavno emitujemo full HD digitalni signal. Dakle, televizija je u potpunosti digitalno spremna za full HD signal. Čitav proces je trajao nešto više od dvije godine. Prvo što smo uradili bila je digitalizacija režije i play-out sistema. Nabavljene su nove miksete, softveri i kamere koje koristimo u studiju. U julu 2017. pustili smo full-HD digitalni signal, a u decembru nabavili i dodatnu digitalnu opremu. Međutim, kablovski operateri još ne preuzimaju naš digitalni signal. Kada je riječ o zemaljskoj mreži, to nije u našoj nadležnosti, mi pretvaramo iz digitalnog u analogni signal i šaljemo putem predajnika. Što se nas tiče, mi smo spremni, potrebno je još samo digitalizovati predajnike“, objašnjava Kučanin.

Emir Cocalić ističe da je digitalizacija isključivo pokušaj da se uvede red na medijskoj sceni putem podizanja standarda i kvaliteta slike i zvuka.

„Ko će preživjeti, a ko ne, vidjet ćemo. Ne mislim da će svi moći ispoštovati što se trenutno traži, mislim da za to jednostavno nema šanse. S druge strane, ko je taj što će ugasiti jednu televiziju, odnosno ugasiti 10 radnih mjesta? Dakle, stvar je mnogo kompleksnija nego što se čini. Mislim da bi država čak trebala pomoći nekim televizijama, prije svega onima lokalnog karaktera, kako bi polako ušle u taj proces. Kako sada stvari stoje, uvjeren sam da proces digitalizacije neće biti završen u narednih pet godina“, smatra Cocalić.

Iz Ministarstva prometa i komunikacija BiH istakli su, pak, da će one medijske kuće koje ne budu tehnički spremne za emitiranje digitalnog signala nastaviti emitiranje analognog signala u skladu s dozvolom koju izdaje Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije, pod uvjetom da analogni signal pojedinačnog medija ne pravi smetnje digitalnom signalu drugih medija.

„Ukoliko se desi taj problem, pojedinačni medij će biti isključen s frekvencije koju koristi taj medij, a Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije će iznaći alternativno rješenje za svaki pojedinačni medij, kako bi emitirali svoj analogni signal“, kazali su za kraj u Ministarstvu.

Izvor: Media.ba

Genuine freedom of online media does not benefit either political party in BiH

By

BHJA

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17/01/2018

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SARAJEVO, 17.01.2018.Online media field in BiH, being considered as completely unsettled and messy area and branch, followed by the lack of political will by the official governing authorities, resulted in the appearance of the vast number of internet media websites emerging in public literally out of nowhere.

Often, there are no details available or even basic information provided about the ownership of such media houses or even no information about journalists posting the news in these online media houses. Nowadays, almost anyone in BiH can launch a setup internet website, design it in form of news internet web site and thus become the owner of such online media house. There is neither Law on Media Ownership Transparency nor Law on Advertising in our country so far. I haven’t discovered yet how certain websites managed to receive their ISSN numbers. Also, there is no Legal Act regarding the minimum number of employees with certain university degrees obtained, necessary to be engaged with such online media houses. Therefore, any online media web house can start with business engaging only one “journalist” and this journalist can post anything he/she likes with no legal responsibility as a consequence. All of the above mentioned additionally creates continuous degrading and devaluing of online journalism comparing to traditional journalism, such as TV and Radio and results in mistrust by the general public regarding the online media news and information. No political party in BiH showed political will and desire to finally solve the above-mentioned problems pursuant to EU countries and their experiences.

Local governing officials in Trebinje managed to “buy out” the existing online websites and shall introduce new websites soon

Largest local and, at the same time, ruling political party (SNSD), seriously took into consideration the growth of online media houses in future and they consequently decided, through indirect financial arrangements and through both public and private companies, to purchase and buy almost all local websites in the city of Trebinje. There is whole “army” of political activists that are in charge of editing the contents of at least five (5) local websites in Trebinje, but also in charge with launching new websites and the founder of one of these recently emerged local websites, following the last 2016 Local / Municipal Elections, has been awarded with a vacancy (a full time job) in City Hall. These kinds of information do make an outstanding reflection and influence, particularly in smaller regions such as East Herzegovina. Additionally, younger generation of future journalists thus receives rather highlighted and very powerful message: Do launch your own website, since you may, through loyal “journalism” – “get a full-time job” in Public Sector.

Online media houses being under pressure by political institution

City Hall, City Assembly, including highly ranked officials of Public Enterprises with head offices in Trebinje have been using all mechanisms available to disallow independent journalists and deprive them of the right to free and undisturbed work. Journalists working for our web site have been denied from taking part in all public venues organized by City Hall officials with an explanation and justification, issued personally by the City Mayor himself, that (quote): “He shall invite us “when something important emerges”. City’s Prime Official Authority thus allows himself to make personally based decisions on what journalists should consider as “important” information!?

City Assembly governing body official went even further up in their rules by introducing new rules regarding report making from assembly sessions (local assembly) and these rules differ from all rules in the previous period. After abjuring the initial decision to impose a complete ban for all journalists willing to participate during Assembly Hall sessions, new governing body officials decided that any journalists (willing to participate during Assembly sessions) must provide the officials with valid accreditation cards 48 hours prior to assembly session commencement. It was only after a “rebellion” raised by local journalists that the official governing authorities decided to allow journalists to get accredited via electronic sources and journalists are still unsatisfied with this improvised decision either. President of Trebinje City Assembly made a promise to all media representatives that would have a special meeting with them in March 2017; however, it seems that his promise was just another lie.

From threats and ignoring to mafia – mannered arrogance

I personally witnessed the pressure imposed by local politicians against the owners and online media editors that wish to remain independent in their work regardless of eventual circumstances. Luka Petroviç, present Trebinje City Mayor, and SNSD General Secretary, had during the pre-election campaign in 2016, when he won the elections by gaining trust by his voters for mandate, threatened me personally over the phone and warned me that I should stop writing articles/texts about him and he also threatened to press charges against me because of two article s/ texts written and posted by me. His threats also included discriminatory and hate speech directed against me. The entire case was posted on particular internet websites and TV stations. OSCE BiH officials were also informed about these threats and we managed to get information about the plan for charges/plaint through the BH Journalists office in Sarajevo. Unfortunately, after our lawyer had evaluated the complete case and situation, we decided not to press charges in this particular case.

Currently, City Hall officials in Trebinje attempt to ignore our media house as much as possible. We have been deprived of information, we also have to wait for statements for over five (5) days and often we get no required statements or releases at all.

It is also important to emphasize the case of “Trebisnjica Hydroelectric Power Plant” whose officials have been trying to disallow us from receiving and getting appropriate information, that we believe represented general public interest, as this actually displayed the violation of the Law on Free Access to Information. At certain time, after we asked the officials of Trebisnjica Hydro – Electric Power Plant why they keep refusing to reply and answer to all our enquiries and questions which again represented clear violation of the Law, Gordan Miseljic, general manager of this Public Enterprise and also a member of ruling SNDS political party, replied to our female colleague by stating the “the law does exist so it can be violated”.

This text is a part of E-Bulletin– second edition of special serial of BHN online bulletin implemented through the “Media and Public Reputation” (origin. “Mediji i javni ugled”) project, also representing a contribution to public debate regarding the transparency of media ownership and upholding and encouraging the passing of set of laws aimed to advance media field and information market in BiH.

Phone returned after four months

By

TUMM

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17/01/2018

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PODGORICA, 17.01.2018 – Yesterday, after four months, a cell phone was returned to Daily “Dan” journalist Vladimir Otašević. The phone was seized by the police on the order of the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Bijelo Polje, within the investigation on threats made to Otašević by the Prime Minister’s brother.

Otašević was invited yesterday, to give a witness statement, by the Deputy Chief Prosecutor Vukas Radonjić, who returned the phone. The investigation is conducted against Velizar Marković from Mojkovac, brother of the Prime Minister Duško Marković, who threatened Daily “Dan” journalist on September 11.

He swore and threatened during a telephone conversation with a journalist, who contacted him trying to connect with his brother Radoje Marković. The Prime Minister has previously said that all of this has a political context and that his family should be left alone.

The Council for Civilian Control of Police Operations accepted the complaint of the Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro regarding the police conduct and it established that the police failed to comply with the order of the Prosecutor, who requested from Mojkovac security unit, on September 29, 2017, to take the recording from already sized phone in the presence of the journalist. They asked, according to the reply of the Police Directorate Director, Slavko Stojanović to the Council, from the police to notify the Prosecutor whether the journalist was invited, and if not why.

On September 14, Otašević’s cell phone and SIM card, were seized as they were sent to the expert analysis.

Otašević’s lawyer, Aleksandar Kovačević, confirmed to Vijesti that the journalist gave a statement to the Prosecutor.

Otašević asked the Prosecutor why he was not invited to be present while the recording was extracted from the phone, as ordered by his colleague from Bijelo Polje, but he did not receive an answer. Radonjić told him that he had just taken the case and did not know anything about it, said Kovačević.

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