Ingrid Deltenre
EBU Director General
(By email, 27 February 2016)
Copy to:
Croatian Prime Minister Tim Orešković
Speaker of Croatian Sabor Željko Reiner
Dear Ms Deltenre,
I write to you as a concerned Croatian citizen whom you should remember as I was an HRT-Croatian Radio International Relations executive until 2012. Before my retirement, if I remember correctly, we exchanged some personal views about multicultural broadcasting at a dinner during an EBU Assembly hosted by HRT in the Croatian resort of Opatija.
The reason for my concern is your recent letter to Croatian Prime Minister Tim Orešković. The letter, which in the meantime became available for public consumption through various media outlets, is somewhat unusual – to say the least. You express EBU’s concern about “reported threats to the editorial and institutional independence” of HRT. You chose to use strong words but without clearly stating who, where and when had reported such threats. Furthermore, you did not specify what kind of threats were allegedly made and by whom?
Please forgive my journalistic attitude but answers to such questions are of utmost importance in reporting – especially in the Public Service Media reporting. I am sure you would agree that in any alleged controversy there have to be at least two sides, and the bigger the controversy the bigger the number of concerned sides that must be heard. That is a very important fact – especially when the controversy includes allegations about “threats”.
You know, of course, that journalists, producers and managers in any media must seek answers to the question what if....? For example, what if the management of a certain EBU member is perceived by the public as an installation of undemocratic political processes? What if there are reports about continuous public dissatisfaction and discontent with editorial and institutional behavior of a Public Service Media? What if the management of a Public Service Media, due to repeated disregard for freedom of expression and media pluralism, has caused massive discontent and protests by its own journalists and other employees? What if a Public Service Media is the subject of an unusually big number of lawsuits by unjustifiably dismissed employees – some of whom are also victims of bulling? What if a Public Service Media allegedly employs less qualified people, just because they belong to a certain political option, rather than adequately skilled and qualified applicants who have no political affiliations? Most importantly, what if an EBU member’s management has been allegedly breaking or totally ignoring most of European and international standards?
Please understand that my journalistic approach to your letter is good intended. In line with that, allow me to remind you that Croatia was a part of the former communist Yugoslavia and some of the old totalitarian habits still exist. Furthermore, unlike other former communist countries that achieved freedom and independence through peaceful processes, Croatia was forced to defend itself from a brutal aggression orchestrated in Belgrade. Many people had given their lives for our freedom, independence and democracy. Therefore, such values are often emotionally cherished in all segments of the society. That, of course, requires additional media sensitivity – particularly at the HRT which is our biggest and most important national media institution.
I am sure that the new Croatian Government led by Prime Minister Tim Orešković is determined to encourage better managing of HRT’s budget. The public which pays HRT fees expects and demands that from the Government. Furthermore, public demands for editorial improvements, particularly in the News & Current Affairs Department, have to be met in order to fully satisfy the needs and expectations of the whole society as well as the huge Croatian Diaspora which is spread out all over the world because of the wars and more recently due to economic crisis.
In conclusion, allow me to remind you that every institution in the world is accountable to some higher authority. HRT, as a Public Service Media, is accountable for its administrative and financial activities to the State and accordingly has to make annual reports before the Croatian Sabor (Parliament). The State chooses and appoints HRT’s Director General. For the program content HRT is, of course, accountable to its fee payers – the public. You know and I know that a total and/or absolute independence of Public Service Media cannot and does not exist anywhere in the world. Accountability is an important part of democracy. Adequate reactions to public demands for improvements to Public Service Media editorial and institutional activities are equally important.
Kind regards,
Vladimir Lušić
Post je objavljen 27.02.2016. u 20:50 sati.