Public figures demand "end to tabloidization"

BELGRADE A group of public figures has pressed Minister of Culture and Information Ivan Tasovac with a demand to “stop the media terror and tabloidization of Serbia.” They also want him to, "without intruding on the rights of the journalist profession, stand in the protection of the public and citizens’ interest." Public figures demand "end to tabloidization" “We know we cannot prevent the tabloidization of the media, but it is Your and Your ministry’s duty, more than anyone else's, to do all to stop the tabloidization of Serbia,” reads an open letter to the minister signed by journalist Slavisa Lekic, writer Svetislav Basara, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights President Sonja Biserko, human rights activist Aida Corovic, actor Sergej Trifunovic, President of the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia Vukasin Obradovic and others. The open letter says that it has become quite usual for the media in Serbia to violate three ethical principles – truth-telling, respect for human dignity and non-violence. “Everywhere in the normal world the ideal of journalism is focused on searching for information and based on commitment to treating people and events justly and fairly, with respect for humanity and the good of the community,” the letter says. In Serbia, just like in many of the developed countries, there is a code of conduct for the press derived from the rights to free speech, privacy and the protection of reputation, and from the legal provisions on defamation, according to the letter. The Declaration on the rights and duties of journalists of the European Union stresses that the rights and duties of journalists arise from the public’s right to be informed of events and opinions, which actually means that journalists are given freedom to act – by serving the interests of the public, the letter says. “We believe that it is Your obligation to act and, first of all, without intruding on the rights of the journalist profession, stand in the protection of the public and citizens’ interest, regardless of their sex, religion or political affiliation,” reads the letter sent to the minister. Tanjug

Public figures demand "end to tabloidization"

“We know we cannot prevent the tabloidization of the media, but it is Your and Your ministry’s duty, more than anyone else's, to do all to stop the tabloidization of Serbia,” reads an open letter to the minister signed by journalist Slaviša Lekić, writer Svetislav Basara, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights President Sonja Biserko, human rights activist Aida Ćorović, actor Sergej Trifunović, President of the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia Vukašin Obradović and others.

The open letter says that it has become quite usual for the media in Serbia to violate three ethical principles – truth-telling, respect for human dignity and non-violence.

“Everywhere in the normal world the ideal of journalism is focused on searching for information and based on commitment to treating people and events justly and fairly, with respect for humanity and the good of the community,” the letter says.

In Serbia, just like in many of the developed countries, there is a code of conduct for the press derived from the rights to free speech, privacy and the protection of reputation, and from the legal provisions on defamation, according to the letter.

The Declaration on the rights and duties of journalists of the European Union stresses that the rights and duties of journalists arise from the public’s right to be informed of events and opinions, which actually means that journalists are given freedom to act – by serving the interests of the public, the letter says.

“We believe that it is Your obligation to act and, first of all, without intruding on the rights of the journalist profession, stand in the protection of the public and citizens’ interest, regardless of their sex, religion or political affiliation,” reads the letter sent to the minister.