BH Journalists Association issues public protest to Fahrudin Radončić

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Steering Board of the BH Journalists Association issues a public protest to Fahrudin Radončić, Chairman of the BiH Coordination Body for Protection and Rescue and Minister of Security of BiH, due to attempts at political manipulation and inaccurate interpretation of the legitimate request by BH Journalists for the formation of a media pool and the creation of epidemiologically and health-wise safe conditions for journalists covering events related to the coronavirus in Sarajevo and other BiH cities.

By calling for the formation of a media pool, BH Journalists did not seek a privilege for journalistic teams, but safe working conditions, as required and recommended by all international health and media organizations and associations, as well as BiH authorities, crisis headquarters, and civil protection.

Examples of holding press conferences in a safe manner, without gathering large numbers of journalistic teams, exist in Europe, as well as in BiH – in Banja Luka, where public information has been disseminated for the past seven days without gathering journalists in one room and with effective use of online communication tools and channels, or in the capital of BiH, where the Council of Ministers of BiH is trying to find the best and safest ways to organize press conferences with BHRT, as the public broadcaster.

"For us in the Steering Board of BH Journalists, it is completely unacceptable that Radončić is trying to gain political points by confronting the protection of journalists with that of all other citizens of BiH, in a way that suggests some are less or more important than others. The simple, justified, and reasonable request of the journalistic association for the protection of journalists, cameramen, and photojournalists is based on the fact that some of our colleagues are in self-isolation and cannot perform their professional duties due to attending press conferences or other public gatherings. We also emphasize that without healthy and protected media workers, it will not be possible to adequately inform or educate the citizens of BiH about the necessary measures and protection they need to take in preventing the spread of the coronavirus," the statement reads.

The Steering Board of BH Journalists warns Radončić that he will bear responsibility if any more media professionals become infected during press conferences that are not organized in a proper and safe manner.