Circle 99: Inappropriate interference of the acting director of the FUP in Hayat's editorial policy

(Patria) - The Association of Independent Intellectuals Circle 99 issued a statement today regarding, as they stated, the inappropriate interference of the acting director of the FUP in the editorial policy of TV Hayat.

http://nap.ba/post/851185/vd-direktora-fup-a-vahidin-munjic-prijetio-hayatu-odgovorio-mu-direktor-elvir-svrakic

Acting Director of FUP Vahidin Munjić threatened Hayat, director Elvir Švrakić responded

Written by: Hayat.baVahidin Munjić, who claims to be the director of the Federal Police Administration (although he has held the position of acting director of the FUP for a long time), addressed ...

"The presumption of innocence is one of the fundamental principles of human rights and plays a key role in ensuring the rights of persons involved in legal proceedings. This legal mechanism ensures that every person is innocent until proven guilty.

Even minimally responsible media adhere to this principle in accordance with the professional code. This cannot apply in any way to the broadcasting of content in TV Hayat's show 'Istraga sedmice' (Investigation of the Week) in the 'Spengavanje' case.

On the contrary, publishing information of public interest, which this clearly is, given that the Federal Parliament itself found a reason to discuss it, which is already in its infancy, is the nature of media work and journalistic duties.

The public not only seeks but demands that the media as a whole fulfill their professional role by publishing information that promotes transparency and accountability of the authorities.

The merit, however, lies elsewhere, which the acting director of the FUP, Mr. Munjić, does not understand or deliberately obscures. Namely, he himself does not question the truthfulness of the published content, but shifts the responsibility for its public disclosure to the media and journalists.

A journalist has the right and, in accordance with the journalistic code, the obligation to protect the confidentiality of information sources, especially when it comes to an interest like this. Especially since citizens finance both officials and institutions that are in the public interest.

The journalist is not responsible for how the information was collected or made public. It is clear that the transcripts of the published messages were collected, presumably, by the competent institutions in a lawful manner.

The journalist certainly, and TV Hayat in particular, had neither the means nor the way to obtain such data unlawfully. The responsibility, therefore, lies with the responsible persons in the institutions that are obliged to protect the public interest and individual rights, including the dissemination of information that is evidence in the treated case.

It is clear that police views and media standards are in conflict. Unfortunately, this case will expose the manipulative nature of those media that will neglect professional standards and the public interest through one-sided selection of information," the statement from Circle 99 reads.