ZAGREB, Aug 28 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday sent into urgent parliamentary procedure a bill on media. Prime Minister Ivica Racan has said the government will soon table draft amendments to the Penal Code and a proposal
that libel be sanctioned with fines instead of a prison sentence, which will apply to all citizens, not only reporters.
ZAGREB, Aug 28 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday sent
into urgent parliamentary procedure a bill on media. Prime Minister
Ivica Racan has said the government will soon table draft
amendments to the Penal Code and a proposal that libel be sanctioned
with fines instead of a prison sentence, which will apply to all
citizens, not only reporters. #L#
Government members said that the media bill, which is part of a set
of laws to be adjusted with European standards, had been drawn up
well.
Culture Minister Antun Vujic stressed that the bill secured both
external and internal media autonomy. The draft law also stipulates
the principle of the public's right to know everything the media
relay from various areas as well as everything about the media.
To this end, publishers will be obliged to publish annual reports on
their programme basis, ownership structure, average circulation
and profits.
Vujic said that the issues of ownership concentration restrictions
and fight against media monopoly were being regulated with the bill
for the first time.
According to the bill, the number of copies of one or more dailies or
weeklies sold by publishing companies should not exceed 40 percent
of the relevant market. In that case, the publisher could not be the
owner or purchase shares of another daily or weekly, he said.
Special attention will be paid to the right to publish corrections
and replies to published information.
According to the draft law, a person will be able to file a claim for
libel compensation provided that he or she has previously asked the
medium in question to publish a correction. The law suit will be
settled under urgent procedure.
The bill provides for the possibility of reporters filing a suit
with the Administrative Court against a civil servant who denies
them requested information, Vujic said.
Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic said that a law on the
right to obtain information had been prepared.
The bill on media also provides reporters with the right to refuse
to carry out an assignment if it is contrary to the rules of their
profession and ethics and the right to be consulted regarding the
appointment or dismissal of the editor-in-chief. The bill also
introduces a clause of conscience and provisions regarding press
distribution.
The bill will cost tax-payers 2.6 million kuna, of which 1.8 million
will be needed for the salaries of new experts in the competent
ministry.
(hina) lml