BH Journalists Appeal: Postpone Press Conferences and Public Gatherings Unrelated to Coronavirus

(Patria) - The Steering Board of BH Journalists and the Helpline for Journalists appeal to all public institutions, bodies, political parties, and civil society organizations to postpone all press conferences or other public gatherings with journalists that are not related to reporting on the coronavirus and the measures being taken to prevent its spread in Bosnia and Herzegovina until further notice. 

Given that special measures to protect against the spread of coronavirus are in force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in some cities even emergency measures (as in Banja Luka), we believe that in such a situation it is necessary to reduce the risk for journalists, cameramen, photojournalists, and other media workers. Therefore, we call on the authorities to completely postpone or minimize gatherings with a larger number of journalists, or to organize video conferences, addresses to the media via Skype or other communication channels offered by the internet age.

The Steering Board of BH Journalists emphasizes once again that press conferences regarding the epidemiological situation are important for the entire public in BiH, but all other meetings with journalists and media workers should be reduced or completely postponed given the need to preserve the health of all media workers, so that they can continue to monitor the situation related to the coronavirus and continue to work in the interest of citizens.

We also call on the owners of commercial media and managers of public media services and local TV stations to, in addition to following the recommendations of the authorities, take additional preventive protection measures within media houses, by creating a hygienically and healthily safe working environment for all media employees.