BH journalists: Public protest to management and administration of Television Sarajevo

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Management Board of the BH Journalists Association (UO BHN) sends a public protest to the management and administration of JP Television Sarajevo (TVSA) due to pressure, censorship and other forms of direct interference in the work of journalists and editors, including daily „filtering“ of the news program in accordance with particular interests of politicians, and not the public interest and the right to objective and fair information for citizens of the Sarajevo Canton (KS), it was announced from the BH Journalists Association.

„Journalists and editors of TVSA are daily exposed to professional humiliations and other forms of jeopardizing journalistic integrity. Along with creating a list of topics and interlocutors who can or cannot be part of this media's program, certain journalists are moved from one position to another for a period of two months, which brings additional insecurity and negatively affects the quality performance of journalistic tasks. Such conduct represents an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the media, and a violation of the right to safe and dignified work. Therefore, the BH Journalists Association demands from director Edina Fazlagić to urgently ensure legally prescribed working conditions for all employees in an equal manner, in accordance with generally accepted standards of free journalism, professional ethics, and in the manner prescribed by the Editorial Principles of TVSA.“

BH journalists believe that the abuse of the cantonal TVSA for political purposes has been carried out for almost two decades. 

„The ruling structures of this canton have changed directors, editors and management of TVSA in accordance with current political goals or ruling coalitions, and not based on law, public interest and professional competencies, thereby causing immeasurable damage to the objectivity and quality of public information in KS. Due to all the above, the UO BHN recently, through the Journalist Help Line, requested from the Government of KS and the Ministry of Justice and Administration of KS, as well as the Institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman in BiH, protection of freedom of expression and public interest in TVSA programs, including creating conditions for free and dignified work of all journalists and editors“, it was announced from the BH Journalists Association, Patria reports.