prijava
SARAJEVO, October 2 (FENA) - The first regional days of journalism event that began in Sarajevo, organized by the Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), has brought together a number of Western Balkan journalists who will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge, experience and talk about the challenges they face.
CRD Board Chairperson Benedicte Berner said the intention was to promote freedom of speech in the region, freedom of reporting, access to information, but also to prevent attacks that journalists are exposed to while doing their job.
The most important thing is that these attacks on journalists do not go unpunished, that is, the issue of impunity of attacks on journalists should be brought into focus.
“Journalists are a very important part of a democratic society and dialogue. When they do their work ethically, reliably, when the information they give to the public is reliable, then there is no need for citizens to consider them their enemies,” said Berner and added that there should be a dialogue between the judiciary/prosecutor's office and the media, in the context of eradicating any impunity for attacking journalists.
While there media outlets backed by certain political parties, seeking to increase their viewership, Brener believes that ethical reporting is nevertheless crucial.
"When reporting of the media is done objectively and ethically, even if they are in favor of a political party, they should abide by the norms and principles of ethical reporting," she said.
The two-day conference will feature panel discussions, thematic meetings and workshops led by prominent media experts, as well as specialized master training on corruption research and reporting led by Drew Sullivan.
He believes that investigative journalism on a global level is in its golden age, but that the regional one still has a long way to go. He believes that there are good initiatives in investigative journalism in BiH, Serbia, but there is still much work to be done in the mass media.
A video message from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović was also presented. She has called for action to combat hostilities against journalists, as well as to remove structural deficiencies in state institutions that are there to protect them.
(FENA) S. R.
