In 29 cities on May 3rd: Citizens and journalists together in the fight for truth

The Press Council of BiH, in cooperation with the Youth News Association of BiH (ONAuBiH), on the occasion of May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day, is organizing the Public Campaign "Citizens and journalists together in the fight for truth", reports the Patria news agency.

The public campaign will be implemented in 29 cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The goal of the Public Campaign "Citizens and journalists together in the fight for truth" is to encourage citizens to use their civic right and send complaints to the Press Council of BiH regarding unprofessional media reporting, but also to inform themselves about the state of media (non)freedom in BiH, and that the constant endangerment of freedom of expression and information represents a violation of basic human rights to truthful and timely reporting.

Volunteers from the Local Teams of ONA in BiH will inform citizens at info-stands in central city areas about their right to complain about inaccurate and unprofessional media reporting, by explaining the Complaint Procedure of the Press Council of BiH.

They will also conduct a survey on the state of media freedom in BiH and respect for citizens' right to accurate and professionally presented information, distributing the Code of Ethics for the Press and Online Media of the Press Council of BiH and the magazine Karike, produced by young journalists of ONAuBiH.

In 2014, the Press Council of BiH received 875 complaints, and since the beginning of 2015, it has received 79 complaints from citizens regarding the reporting of the press and online media, of which 11 complaints relate to comments from internet portal visitors. Out of the total number of received complaints, 40 were resolved through self-regulation, i.e., by publishing denials, reactions, corrections or apologies, or by removing comments containing hate speech, incitement or discrimination.

Despite increasing pressure on freedom of information and the work of the media, a large number of complaints resolved through self-regulation shows that print and online media are increasingly accepting media self-regulation.

The public campaign "Citizens and journalists together in the fight for truth" will be held in: Banja Luka, Bihać, Cazin, Goražde, Sarajevo, Jablanica, Istočno Sarajevo, Zavidovići, Tuzla, Pale, Visoko, Zenica, Rudo, Šamac, Travnik, Stolac, Odžak, Višegrad, Kakanj, Jajce, Mostar, Srebrenik, Brčko, Gradiška, Maglaj, Foča, Olovo, Modriča and Kalinovik, it was announced from the Press Council.