News in English     | 20.04.2018. 14:32 |

Désir: Politics must not influence media content or management selection

FENA Vernera Jakupović

SARAJEVO, April 20 (FENA) - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir believes that the independence of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not at a satisfactory level. He says that politics should not influence the freedom of media expression nor should the parties influence the selection of media houses’ management.

He also said that the process of switching from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting should be completed as soon as possible across the country because any further delay will cause a series of problems.

“There is a need to improve the current poor financial and other conditions for radio and television broadcasters at the entity and state level,” Mr. Désir said.

On the other hand, the media must respect a professional ethical codex, cultivate the principle of truthfulness and objectivity, and by no means spread hate speech.

Harlem Désir extended these messages at a press conference in Sarajevo summarizing his three-day official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina when he met with state officials, the Regulatory Communications Agency (RCA), media representatives and the non-governmental sector.

Priority in his talks was the security of journalists, not just physical, as well as the need to thoroughly investigate all kinds of pressures and attacks on the press employees.

“Any attack on journalists is an attack on the right of the society to be informed. These attacks must be condemned by the highest level and those who plan or do them directly must be penalized. Attacks on journalists must be punished,” Mr. Désir says.

He announced a regional conference that will address the social importance of the media and problems in their work.

He expressed his willingness to help with the problems he had found, the adoption of appropriate legal regulations and the maintenance of professional standards. He also announced the continuation of OSCE cooperation with the BiH authorities and the readiness to help strengthen the media literacy of young journalists in particular and the independence and sustainability of public broadcasters.

Mr. Désir notes that some media in BiH are independent in their work, especially the web portals, but is concerned, he says, that the impartiality code of radio and television broadcasters, whose activities should be in the interest of citizens rather than governing structures using them for their own interests, is not being respected.

The OSCE Media Representative was informed of the many unsuccessful penalties and warnings of the Communications Regulatory Agency to the media that acted against these practices, which is one of the reasons for the announced stronger involvement of the OSCE in the political independence of public broadcasters.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Bruce Berton, who also addressed this press conference, also stressed that the authorities had to ensure freedom of the media.

There is still work to be done on this in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in some OSCE countries and in the world, Mr. Berton emphasized.

(FENA)
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