“European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organizations”

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19/09/2022

More than 40 European fact-checking media, including Istinomer, have adopted a professional Code that regulates the standards for methodology, ethics and transparency necessary to fight disinformation effectively and with integrity.

The “European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organizations”, was developed through a project involving fact-checking media from more than 30 European countries. It is the result of several months of research, surveys and discussions among European fact-checkers, as well as representatives of the academic community and other experts in this field. The final version of the Code was approved by 44 of the 45 organizations that participated in the vote.

Organizations that wish to become accredited members of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) are obliged to comply with the standards regulated by the Code – starting from the quality of sources to impartiality and financial transparency. Membership in the network, which will represent and support this community, will indicate to the audience which fact-checking media are independent, ethical and committed to working in the public interest.

This project was supported by the European Commission and led by six European organizations focused on the fight against disinformation: Maldita Foundation (Spain), AFP (France), CORRECTIV (Germany), DEMAGOG (Poland), Pagella Politica/Facta (Italy) and EU DisinfoLab (Belgium).

Proposed European Media Freedom Act adopts the approach of the New Deal for Journalism

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IJAS

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19/09/2022

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evropska unija photo canva — photo: canva

The proposed European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) that was unveiled today represents an important step forward for media freedom and for the preservation of democracy and the rule of law throughout the European Union. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) hails this initiative, which incorporates many of its recommendations, and will work to improve it.

“This proposed European legislation on media freedom must be welcomed and defended because it reflects the European Commission’s will to preserve the Union’s values against powerful private-sector corporations, authoritarian states and external manipulation. We appreciate the adoption of many of the recommendations submitted by RSF, in particular, the approach of the New Deal for Journalism proposed by the Forum on Information and Democracy. However, this proposed legislation is still wanting in certain areas and will have to be improved.

Christophe Deloire

Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Unveiled by European Commission vice-president Vera Jourova and internal market commissioner Thierry Breton, the EMFA aims to establish a common basis of media freedom safeguards that are applicable throughout the EU. This is very welcome at a time when journalism and media are under attack in a growing number of EU member states and in the face of unfair competition from online platforms and burgeoning disinformation.

The proposed legislation incorporates a number of the proposals made by RSF during its discussions with European institutions in recent months, including the principles of the International Partnership for Information and Democracy that was initiated by RSF. It de facto recognises the right to reliable information: citizens have the right to receive pluralistic and independent information “for the benefit of the public debate.” And it establishes the necessary safeguards for the exercise of this right – protection for the editorial independence, independence of public service media, and even protection for the confidentiality of journalists’ sources and a ban on the use of spyware against journalists.

Many of the recommendations made in the Forum for Information and Democracy’s reports have also been accepted, in particular those in the report on media sustainability entitled A New Deal for Journalism – such as the importance of taking account of the impact of media market transactions on pluralism and editorial independence, regulating state advertising and ensuring media ownership transparency. The explicit reference, in the EMFA’s recitals, to the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) as a self-regulatory standard allowing media to identify themselves as such to online platforms, and thus benefit from specific protection against platform moderation operations, is an important step forward.

All these provisions need to be developed and strengthened, in particular, the criteria for defining media that will be able to benefit from safeguards against online content moderation, which are not satisfactory in their current form. If self-declaration as a news outlet suffices to enjoy protection, then this mechanism risks hampering the efforts that platforms are expected to undertake to combat disinformation. The JTI should be recognised as the relevant criterion.

Another aspect of the EMFA that needs further development is the protection of the European information space against external manipulation and influence. The EMFA allows coordinated action against media outside the EU that undermine or threaten public security and defence, but does not provide an appropriate and legitimate legal framework for this. RSF’s proposal for a reciprocity mechanism would satisfy this need.

Source: RSF

Serbia Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute suspects for violence during Europride

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IJAS

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19/09/2022

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The Senior Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, will take all measures and actions within its jurisdiction, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, in order to detect and prosecute the individuals who committed acts of violence during the gathering on Saturday in Belgrade, said Nenad Stefanovic, Senior Public Prosecutor in Belgrade.

„I note that the prosecution will direct all available capacities to establish all relevant circumstances of the attack on members of the Interior Ministry at Autokomanda, attacks and threats directed at journalists, as well as individual participants of the ‘Europride’ event,“ Stefanovic said.

At the same time, he welcomed the extremely professional, conscientious and responsible behaviour of the members of the Interior Ministry, who, as he pointed out, once again demonstrated their ability to maintain public order and peace.

Source: N1

N1 reporter verbally assaulted at anti-EuroPride gathering

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IJAS

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19/09/2022

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N1 reporter Petar Gajic was verbally assaulted while covering Saturday’s anti-EuroPride gathering in front of the St Sava Temple in central Belgrade.

Gajic said he and his cameraman were approached by a young man in a hoodie with a mask over his face who told them to turn the camera off and leave because they are not welcome there.

The young man also grabbed Gajic’s phone but handed it back saying that he only wanted to warn the N1 crew. Gajic reported the incident to the police and plain clothes officers were sent to where he was standing.

Gajic continued his coverage of the gathering following the incident.

Source: N1

N1 TV cameraman assaulted by anti-EuroPride protesters

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IJAS

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19/09/2022

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Anti-EuroPride protesters assaulted an N1 TV crew, injuring a cameraman and hurling insults at reporters in front of St Mark’s church in central Belgrade.

The cameraman was hit in the stomach by a bottle thrown at him by a man identified as disrobed monk Antonije who was arrested later. Others in the group of some 30 protesters threw bottles at parked cars and grabbed a pride flag. The Nova.rs portal reported that two of the group were arrested adding that the protesters also hurled verbal abuse at the police. A police cordon is in place around the church and adjoining Tasmajdan park. The protesters are reported to have tried to push through the police to get to the church.

The incidents took place around noon. EuroPride organizers said that they would assemble in front of the nearby Constitutional Court building at 4 pm to start the pride parade an hour later.

Media reports said that EuroPride opponents have been assembling in several places in central Belgrade in anticipation of an anti-globalist gathering which the police banned.

The EuroPride parade is expected to be joined by a number of European officials, reportedly including the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell who was said to have arrived in Belgrade on Friday evening as well as a number of Belgrade-based ambassadors.

A Blic daily police source said that at least 3,000 uniformed officers would be deployed in an effort to keep the two gatherings apart.

The conservative Dveri movement said earlier that if the EuroPride parade goes ahead, Serbia will be proved to be under colonial administration and not an independent state.

Source: N1

IJAS: Authorities to sanction attackers on journalists who reported from Saturday gatherings

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IJAS

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19/09/2022

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The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) welcomes the decision of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office to take all measures to identify and prosecute all persons who behaved violently during EuroPride, and verbally and physically attacked our colleagues who reported from the gathering during the EuroPride march in Belgrade. At the same time, IJAS raises the question of why certain police officers interfered with journalists’ work, even though the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office, a few hours before the gathering, ordered the police and basic public prosecutor’s offices to detain up to 48 hours anyone who attacks journalists reporting from the events in Belgrade.

Despite this, IJAS thanks other policemen, who reacted quickly in difficult circumstances, often themselves exposed to the wrath of the protesters, and generally enabled journalists to do their work.

We expect all the attackers on journalists to be sanctioned. Let us recall that the excommunicated monk Antonije hit the cameraman of N1 television in the stomach with a bottle. The attacker was soon detained.

Members of the Belgrade Police Brigade, without any explanation, stopped and harassed FoNet journalist Davor Lukač, even though he properly introduced himself, just because he watched minors being detained and searched in a public place, in front of the building where the office of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić is.

The crews of N1 and Tanjug were attacked near the Church of Saint Sava while filming the gathering. The N1 team was threatened, and journalist Petar Gajić’s mobile phone was confiscated and then returned to him. After he called a police station, plainclothes officers appeared. The Tanjug team was verbally threatened by a group of hooded boys demanding that they stop filming, and the police did not react at the time.

During the confrontation with the police, the protesters also threw a bottle at the journalist of the Nova.rs portal, who, fortunately, remained unharmed.

Maja Sever, president of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), told the IJAS website that the yesterday’s EuroPride march once again showed that journalists have become targets.

“Attacks in Belgrade are not a random occurrence – instead, journalists performing their usual tasks, reporting on events, became the target of the attacks. Yesterday, the police ensured strong protection, but journalists were attacked nevertheless. In such circumstances it is increasingly difficult to do journalistic work, to cover all aspects of an event, without the risk of getting hurt. Yesterday’s event once again showed that it is necessary to build a strong mechanism for the protection of journalists which will be binding for responsible institutions, such as the police and the prosecutor’s office, but also for employers, who must provide journalists with safety equipment, education and support within the media house,” said Sever.

On the eve of the Saturday’s gatherings, IJAS sent a letter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Directorate, which calls on them to “pay attention, provide support and, if necessary, protect the journalists who will be reporting on Saturday.” IJAS stated in the letter that, in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Serbia, journalists should be granted freedom of movement, as well as the right to record and work, despite the ban on public gatherings, with the aim of providing timely and truthful information to all citizens in the Republic of Serbia about the events in the city of Belgrade.

The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia called on journalists and other media professionals to be clearly and visibly marked with “PRESS” markers prior to the gathering and to have journalist’s identification card prominently displayed, as well as to follow the instructions provided by police officers in given situations.

Journalists were also informed about contact points in IJAS in case they need legal assistance or if a case needs to be reported to the prosecutor’s office and the police.

IJAS invites all colleagues to report to it if they have been attacked or their work interfered with in any way, in the case that IJAS has not recorded the instance already.

Kračković unanimously appointed as president of SMCG

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TUMM

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19/09/2022

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PODGORICA, 19.09.2022 – Journalist and editor Radomir Kračković is the new president of the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro, delegates of the 4th Assembly unanimously decided.

Kračković announced that in the next four years, the focus of his work will be on the adoption of the Branch collective agreement for the media sector, full respect for all labor rights in the media, greater safety of journalists and media workers, as well as increasing the number of Union members.

“Although they seem difficult to achieve due to the current media and social situation in our country, I believe that these goals are not unattainable. It is clear that they will need a lot of work, a firm attitude towards employers and decision-makers, but also the ability to impose solutions through conversations and negotiations that will provide a better position for our members and media workers. The media union will, as before, uncompromisingly stand by its members in the fight for a better tomorrow for our profession,” Kračković said.

The Assembly also elected a new Main Board for the next four-year mandate. The main committee will consist of: Jadranka Drobnjak and Danijel Čelecki (RTCG), Boris Pejović (Vijesti), Predrag Nikolić (Monitor), Edin Zuković (RTV Pljevlja), Enes Gusinjac (RTV Rožaje), Milena Bubanja Obradović (Radio Berane), Dragana Vlaović (RTV Herceg Novi), Suzana Mujić (Radio Ulcinj), Siniša Sanader (Radio Tivat), Marijana Camović Veličković (individual members) and Radomir Kračković (TV Vijesti).

In the introductory part, the recent president, Marijana Camović Veličković, presented the work of that trade union organization in the previous term, noting that a lot of work has been done, but also that the profession is facing numerous challenges.

“After doubling the membership in 2018 and joining three new trade union organizations, SMCG continued to work on the expansion of SMCG and significant progress was achieved in that segment. Over the past four years, the membership has been increased by three new trade union organizations – the Radio and Television of Cetinje, the Radio Ulcinj and the Radio Tivat, which joined our Trade Union in 2019. In this way, about 30 new members joined the Union,” she said.

Camović Veličković emphasized that during the previous four years, 14 researches were carried out, 217 advocacy activities, 16 public events were organized with domestic and international participation, and 245 press releases were sent.

In the introductory part, the deputy general secretary of the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro, Ivana Mihaijlović, said that the enthusiasm, will, perseverance and courage of those who were at the head of the union made the Media Union an indispensable partner at all levels.

“You have gone through a thorny path since your establishment and we are proud of what you have achieved,” said Mihajlović.

The President of the European Federation of Journalists, Maja Sever, in a video message, thanked for the cooperation and pointed out that with its previous work, SMCG was a role model not only in the region but also in Europe.

“I hope that we will continue to cooperate, that we will continue to work together on the most important goals of our organizations, but also of the European Federation of Journalists, which is the strengthening and empowerment of male and female journalists,” she concluded.

30 delegates from 12 trade union organizations participated in the work of the Assembly.

BH Journalists: Urgently investigate the attack on BNTV journalist and adopt changes to the Criminal Code!

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BHJA

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16/09/2022

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BANJALUKA/SARAJEVO, September 16, 2022 – The Steering Committee of the BH Journalists Association and the Free Media Help Line (FMHL) demand that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska and the competent prosecutor’s office urgently investigate the physical attack on the journalist of BN Television, Aleksandar Gluvić.

As reported by rtvbn.com, Gluvić was physically attacked on Thursday evening in the Petrićevac neighborhood of Banja Luka, while he was filming an illegally parked vehicle bearing the symbols of the SNSD party. The owner and driver of the truck first threatened the BN journalist and warned him not to take photos, and after the journalist ignored his threats, he called for the help of his son who physically attacked Gluvić, grabbing him by the neck.

As BN reports, the entire incident was recorded by a surveillance camera at a nearby cafe.

The Steering Committee of BH Journalists and the Free Media Help Line consider it unacceptable to prevent journalists from performing their professional tasks, especially by threats, intimidation and jeopardizing their physical safety. The attack on the journalist of BN Television in Banja Luka is a criminal act that requires a thorough police investigation, as well as taking legal measures against those who illegally threatened the right to freedom of expression and the dignified work of journalists and the media.

Any form of intimidation or endangering the safety of those who report to the public about events and phenomena in society, especially violent behavior towards journalists, is absolutely reprehensible. Of particular concern is the fact that the journalist was attacked by activists and members of a political party, which in this pre-election period is also a kind of message to the public that it is allowed to “fight” with journalists and the media.

The Steering Committee of BH Journalists calls on the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to submit amendments to the Criminal Code of BiH which will treat attacks on journalists as a special criminal offense to the parliamentary procedure as soon as possible, based on the initiative adopted in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BH in June this year.

We call upon the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and the Parliament of the Federation of BiH to also adopt amendments to the Criminal Code that will enable more effective protection of journalists and media freedoms.

Belarus: Journalist Denis Ivashin shockingly sentenced to 13 years in prison

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IJAS

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15/09/2022

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The Grodno Regional Court sentenced, on Wednesday 14 September, the Belarusian journalist Denis Ivashin to 13 years and one month in prison. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their affiliate in Belarus, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), in denouncing this travesty of justice and demanding his immediate release.

The journalist’s trial began on August 15, 2022 and was held behind closed doors. Denis Ivashin was arrested on the evening of Friday 12 March 2021 in Grodno, in the west of the country. Five officers of the Belarusian intelligence service (KGB) searched his home and his parents’ house, in the suburbs of Grodno. Particularly interested in the journalist’s links with Ukraine, they seized computers, telephones, SIM cards, bank cards, books, notebooks and various objects.

Denis Ivashin published his latest investigation into former members of the “Berkut”, the Ukrainian riot police, who were recruited into the Belarusian police. The KGB accused Denis Ivashin of cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence. The journalist was charged under the Criminal Code for alleged “interference in the activities of an employee of internal affairs” and for alleged “treason to the State”.

The EFJ and IFJ denounce a court decision based on unfounded accusations. The two federations consider the trial of Denis Ivashin to be a pure travesty of justice and demand his immediate release.

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

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