The two-day event, entitled "Media Democracy in Southeast Europe: Current Problems and Prospects", gathered publishers, editors, journalists and media experts. Held under the auspices of President Stjepan Mesic, the event was organised by the German media concern WAZ, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Southeast European Media Organisation (SEEMO), and local partners, including Hina.
"I call for free, but also responsible journalism, for journalism that uncovers, but does not forget ethical principles," Mesic said.
Noting that he was speaking about the media as a citizen and consumer and not as head of state, Mesic criticised the prevailing trend of sensationalist journalism which he said was using freedom as a front, but was governed solely by profit.
"In such a fake world, only deviant things become news," he said, warning that tendentious journalism that was motivated only by money and viewer ratings was equally dangerous as controlled journalism.
Urging "objective, integral and fair" reporting, Mesic said: "We need media that will be free of any dictate but the dictate of conscience of media workers".
I plead for journalists who will not be motivated only by their salary, but by the desire to use their knowledge to expand the knowledge of others on the path of democracy, which has no end, Mesic said.
The forum was opened by SEEMO secretary-general Oliver Vujovic, who said that its purpose was to gather media representatives so that they could discuss issues related to their profession.
The SEEMO president for Croatia and former president of the Croatian Journalists' Association, Ante Gavranovic, spoke about the importance of communication as "the basic precondition for mutual understanding".
He pointed to the need to develop the culture of dialogue, which he said was sorely needed in all segments of transition societies which had destroyed some basic value systems, without establishing new ones.
The forum will continue with panel discussions on economy and media, politics and media, and media freedom and responsibility. The event will end with a presentation on media freedom and responsibility.