Press Council: Freedom of expression is a fundamental right

(Patria) - The Steering Board of the Press and Online Media Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses concern regarding freedom of expression in our country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 81st on the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, compared to 64th place last year.

The Index, published on World Press Freedom Day, highlights the Council, states that the criminalization of defamation in Republika Srpska represents a threat to journalism, which already faces numerous obstructions across the country due to political and economic pressures and the fact that journalists do not feel safe. The Index also states that press freedom and the quality of journalism do vary in different parts of BiH.

The Steering Board of the Press and Online Media Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina also reminds that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. It is also a key priority (number 12) from the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's application for membership in the European Union.

The public interest is, as further stated, a basic concept of ethical journalistic standards and is contained in the Code of Ethics for Print and Online Media of BiH.

Journalists have the right and obligation to report on all facts of public interest. When reporting on facts of public interest, journalists will take into account the protection of privacy, personal and business data of natural and legal persons they report on, with the public interest always being primary in relation to the protection of privacy, especially of politicians and public officials,” it is stated, among other things, in Article 1 – Work in the Public Interest of the Code, the Council reminds.

It is also added that the Press and Online Media Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina records an increase in complaints and lawsuits filed by politicians against journalists and media, which is one of the methods of pressure and intimidation.

Journalists and editors complain daily about a new type of pressure, such as demands to remove articles, with threats of lawsuits, without prior response or denial, which is also intimidation, pressure, and a threat. The prescribed penalties will contribute to censorship, self-censorship, and by their very execution, to the closure of media outlets.

Therefore, on this World Press Freedom Day, the Press and Online Media Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina once again calls on all citizens to be the bearers of the fight for free and responsible, professional media, as the foundation of a free democratic society and life, by reacting to attacks on journalists, to the denial of information to journalists, as well as by sending complaints about inaccurate and unprofessional media reporting.