Blockade for Trump: What BiH Media Can Learn from American Television

(Patria) - Several American media outlets interrupted the address of the still-incumbent US President Donald Trump at the moment he declared victory in some federal states, while also speaking of "illegal votes." Several television stations then interrupted the broadcast, correcting Trump's claims by saying there was no evidence of illegal votes.

What we have been watching for three days in the United States can hardly be called a celebration of democracy. Accusations of false votes, calls to stop counting votes, seeking court orders, protests in front of vote counting centers, accusations by the current US president that the elections were stolen are not characteristic of any democratic process, and especially not of the election of the 46th US president.

The media play a significant role in this process. Without delving into whether the media are aligned with one candidate or the other, which should not be the case, it can be said that the TV stations that interrupted the broadcast acted correctly.

BiH media could learn from this example. For years, in direct addresses at press conferences, member of the Presidency of BiH Milorad Dodik and SNSD president has made very harsh qualifications against Bosniaks, calling them Muslims, saying that BiH is an impossible country, threatening secession, and his speech is very often inflammatory and incites national and religious hatred. However, we have never experienced any television station interrupting a live broadcast.

The same applies to press conferences that Dodik regularly holds in East Sarajevo, not in the building of the Presidency of BiH. There are few media outlets that do not attend these press conferences.

If the media were to ignore Dodik's press conference just once, or to stop recording while he makes the worst accusations or insults, and very often argues with journalists themselves, then something would certainly have to change in Dodik's attitude. As long as the media give him legitimacy and broadcast everything he says, whether true or not, he will not stop his practice.

The same applies to all other politicians who make similar qualifications, but nowhere near threatening secession, disintegration, or conflict in BiH.