28. 04. 2014

SERBIAN PROGRESSIVE PARTY DISSATISFIED WITH RTS COVERAGE

28. 04. 2014 (Politika, By M.A.) - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) message that the public service broadcaster serves as a "platform for dirty attacks against Vučić " was assessed by journalists` associations as a classic form of intimidation of journalists.

SNS said yesterday that "Radio Television Serbia, instead of being a public service for all citizens, serves as a platform for dirty daily attacks against the SNS president Aleksandar Vučić."

"SNS is not complaining about anything, but we wish to inform citizens that Radio Television Serbia (RTS), instead of being a public service for all citizens, serves as a platform for dirty daily attacks against SNS president Aleksandar Vučić," says the statement that was carried by Tanjug news agency.

"In previous days, as on the day when the Government of the Republic of Serbia is being formed, we had a chance to witness a flood of unfounded remarks by RTS hosts, with the sole purpose to degrade the new government and the reputation of Aleksandar Vučić," said the SNS statement, which caused reactions by opposition parties and journalists' associations. The first to react was the Democratic Party (DS), labeling the claims by the Progressive Party as "unbelievable." Moreover, the DS statement, which was carried by the Beta news agency, states that the RTS programming in the past two years has been marked by a completely uncritical attitude towards the work of (the SNS president) Vučić, disproportionate representation favoring those who support government policy, inability to hear any opposing views to what the government is doing , and finally by programs presenting monologues in place of interviews.

"It is obvious that the Serbian Progressive Party, since it won absolute power, continues with efforts to control all media outlets and its battle against imaginary enemies," said DS. The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) expressed its concern over the SNS statement, and remarked that "such an accusation, without citing any examples of the alleged 'smear campaign,' represents a classic form of pressure against RTS and media freedom in Serbia, as well as intimidation of journalists ." UNS asked how the most powerful political party in Serbia will be tolerant of criticism during its term of office if it reacts in this way at the peak of popularity. Also, the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS ) strongly condemned the SNS statement, noting that such action by the ruling party is taking Serbia back to a time when media were "either absolutely obedient, or if they remained true to their editorial policy they risked their survival, and even the lives of journalists and editors." This association reminded the ruling party that the role of journalists is to ask questions in public`s name, and the job of politicians and other public figures is to answer these questions. "There are no wrong questions, there are only wrong answers, and this morning's SNS statement is one of the worst ‘answers' from highest authorities in the past few years," NUNS said, reminding the ruling party that neither the state nor other centers of power have the right to interfere with the editorial policy of the media. NUNS said it does not see another reason for this approach but the intent to make it clear to all reporters and editors to be careful about what they write, speak, and ask. "This leads the way for further strengthening of the already too- present self-censorship," NUNS said.

The SNS yesterday failed to explain their statement, except for noting that "it is obvious that DS, in cooperation with certain people who work at RTS, is using the public service broadcaster for a dirty attack against Aleksandar Vučić and the SNS." The Serbian Progressive Party stated that their aim is to inform the citizens of Serbia, who care about objective media and who trust Aleksandar Vučić, about the ways in which public service broadcaster is being misused."