Although the poor economic situation has affected the media owners, it is reporters and other media employees that are bearing the brunt of the crisis, Duka said, warning that reporters are faced with lay-offs, pay reductions and the degradation of their material and professional rights.
The serious situation in the country could be also viewed as an additional stimulation for the media, which he said should help the entire society to undergo a catharsis after a number of very grave political scandals.
According to the HND chief, the most serious situation is in the privately-owned media, which has not yet had much response from the public, unlike the attention given to the situation in the HRT national broadcaster.
Duka warned that apart from financial difficulties, the journalistic sector also faced a professional crisis with a decreasing number of high-quality original texts.
Deputies at the 51th convention will discuss the situation in the media later today.
The 100th anniversary of the HND will be marked by other events, including a fund-raising dinner at the HND home in Zagreb on Saturday.