prijava
BRČKO, December 3 (FENA) – The Federal News Agency (FENA), in partnership with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized a conference titled "Sustainable Media Ecosystem in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina" today in the Brčko District.
Representatives from the media, academia, international organizations, district authorities, and domestic regulatory and self-regulatory bodies discussed issues and opportunities for enhancing the media visibility of Brčko District in Bosnia and Herzegovina's public sphere.
In his opening remarks, FENA Managing Director Elmir Huremović emphasized the conference's significance for the Brčko District as well as for the overall media and societal development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"We are here with a clear mission to collectively address the challenges the Brčko District faces in the media sector and propose tangible solutions to improve its media ecosystem. Brčko is a strategically important region for BiH, with unique administrative status and significant development potential. Reliable and professional media are the foundation of democracy and transparency, serving as a bridge between citizens and authorities, and a catalyst for local community development," said Huremović.
Huremović expressed hope that participants would work toward making Brčko District a model of a sustainable and prosperous media environment, setting an example for others.
"This conference demonstrates our commitment to being an initiator of positive changes and helping develop the media environment across Bosnia and Herzegovina as a socially responsible media outlet. FENA, as the leading news agency and the most-cited news source in BiH, adheres to operational standards comparable to the world's largest news agencies," he added.
He also thanked supporters of the conference, including the OSCE Mission representatives, the Brčko District authorities, the BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović, the BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković, and the Minister of Civil Affairs Dubravka Bošnjak.
The OSCE Mission to BiH spokesperson Željka Šulc highlighted that a sustainable media ecosystem cannot exist unless journalists in BiH, including those in Brčko, feel safe.
"Attacks on journalists are not just attacks on them but on the free flow of information. These attacks curtail the exchange of ideas and information essential for a vibrant and functional democracy. As one prominent American journalist put it, freedom of the press is not only vital for democracy; it is democracy itself. When access to information is restricted, and journalists are harassed, intimidated, or prevented from performing their vital role, democratic institutions weaken, and society suffers," said Šulc.
To address these issues, she noted that earlier this year, the OSCE Mission to BiH, in collaboration with authorities at all levels and with support from the EU Delegation, established contact points for journalist safety within law enforcement agencies across BiH, including the Brčko District.
Šulc urged the Brčko District authorities to thoroughly investigate all incidents involving journalists and hold perpetrators accountable to ensure a safe and conducive working environment for media professionals.
The Speaker of the Brčko District Assembly, Damir Bulčević, expressed confidence that the Assembly would take steps to create a media law, ensuring both journalists' key roles in informing the public and their protection.
"I assure you that journalists will play a key role in shaping this law and that conclusions from this conference will push the Brčko District ahead of others in creating legislation that promotes transparent reporting, objective public perception, and journalist protection," he said.
The Brčko District Mayor Siniša Milić acknowledged the media's unquestionable role in democratizing society, while also emphasizing the risks of media misuse in shaping public opinion. He advocated for appropriate legal frameworks to define and strengthen the media's position.
"Preserving the dignity of the journalism profession is not just the task of public authorities but also the media itself, which must approach its role responsibly. In this regard, we need a law that will regulate the media space, define who qualifies as a journalist, and determine which organizations can be considered media outlets," Milić explained.
The conference aimed to propose solutions to ensure that information from Brčko District reaches the public in BiH, neighboring countries, and beyond more efficiently and widely. The event included two panels: "The Media Landscape in the Brčko District – Overview of the Current State" and "Building a Sustainable Media Ecosystem in the Brčko District."
(FENA) S. R.
