The Croatian Parliament discussed the future of HRT (Croatian Radiotelevision) at a thematic session of the Committee on Information, Computerization and Media, where various opinions clashed regarding the state and direction of the public media service. Key topics included staff reduction, the consolidation plan, and the necessity of reforming the Law on HRT. In his speech, Stipe Alfier, journalist and editor at the News and Media Service, emphasized that the public media service should serve as a watchdog, not a servant of those in power.
“The news program is the most important program — it is the mirror of every media outlet. Everything is judged and shaped by it. When it is free, critical, and pluralistic — it is watched, and the media outlet is respected. Otherwise, everything loses its meaning! It should be a watchdog, not a servant of power, and in this modern digital era — full of chaos and fake news — the only guarantee of media normalcy in society!
After more than 30 years in the News Program, having worked in almost every position — I believe I have the right to give a brief diagnosis of these three decades. During the term of Prime Minister Ivica Račan and the first term of Ivo Sanader — it was a TIME OF FREEDOM. And that thanks to the best HRT director, Mirko Galić — who stood as a barrier to all politics. He gave us freedom, but demanded from everyone — knowledge, ethics, and responsibility in our work!
During Sanader’s second term and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor — there were ATTEMPTS AT CONTROL, but despite political pressures, we managed to work responsibly. Even those appointed by the ruling parties knew how to strike a balance and allowed professional work across the program.”
“During Zoran Milanović’s term — it was a TIME OF ANARCHY, in which we often crossed the boundaries of freedom, which wasn’t good either! But the fact remains that the then Prime Minister, perhaps due to the interests of commercial TV networks, let us sink — as he himself used to say: ‘I don’t care about HRT.’
Even in the late 1990s, when the News Program was literally edited from the President’s Office — the ‘Dnevnik’ (main news) was of higher quality, and there were serious political shows and magazines, like Latinica, TV Parliament, Slikom na Sliku, U potrazi, and many others. So, even back then, it was possible to produce programs that criticized and opened up serious political and social topics.
Then come the last nine years of Andrej Plenković’s premiership. In a time when we have lived with freedom and democracy for more than three decades — what is left of the News Program?! Three news shows, all subordinated not just to government policy, but to one single party. Otvoreno, which rarely deals with serious issues. And HTV 4 — even in its current, understaffed state — is being schooled by N1 in both topic selection and guest choice!
For years, the program has had no political shows or serious content magazines! Old-fashioned censorship no longer exists — instead, there’s an absence of serious topics, PM’s statements that begin and end the news cycle, ministers as main guests, the same usual commentators, and the complete lack of challenging questions — that’s the modus operandi of the editorial line. But it’s all too transparent!
I won’t say that the government edits the program — but it has never looked so much like that. And as we approach elections, it becomes more and more obvious!
I won’t forget to mention the brief six-month episode of TOTAL DARKNESS that began in March 2016. Then, under the patronage of Tomislav Karamarko and Zlatko Hasanbegović, and with the help of Most, the foundations of the current News Program were laid. At that time, staffing at HRT followed the model of ‘one of yours, one of ours’ — and after Most’s ministers were ousted, their personnel at HRT were gradually removed too.
Since then, everything in the institution has changed — multiple times, from directors to program editors. Only the News Program has remained the same, just as it was in spring 2016, when many were marginalized, moved to other departments, or ultimately left HRT. I too could have left — anywhere I wanted, within or outside the institution — but I stayed, out of principle. For a better HRT, I will fight alongside these people — until the end!”
“When, after those six months of darkness, the new Prime Minister came at the end of 2016 — speaking about freedom, democracy, and inclusivity in all areas of society — we on Prisavlje (HRT headquarters) had high hopes. We expected even more from you, Madam Minister — as a media expert and someone familiar with HRT. And from your arrival, Director General — even more!
But you, Director, seem satisfied with the News Program — otherwise, you would have changed something by now, for the better of course, as well as in other parts of the institution. We just don’t know — and maybe we never will — whether you didn’t want to, or you wanted to but weren’t allowed?
And you, Madam Minister, also seem satisfied, judging by your numerous statements over the past years. About ten years ago, when you were President of the HRT Program Council, you spoke very critically and with sound arguments about HRT and its importance for society. You gave good advice to the leadership — about what they should do in the future. I would sign those statements — then and now!
I understand — that perspectives change when one moves from opposition to government — but still, I must ask you: what happened in the meantime? And why don’t you look at the situation at HRT with the same critical eye now, as you did then?
I believe it would benefit all of us at Prisavlje, in the media industry in general, and society as a whole! Since you are announcing a new Law on HRT — there’s still time for a retake,” Alfier concluded.