PRESIDENT MESIC HOLDS RECEPTION FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Thursday held the traditional New Year's reception for domestic and foreign journalists and media representatives, at which he said journalists were the masters of words which they must not abuse but always put to the benefit of democracy. "One cannot escape from the truth and journalists who seek it know this well, while those who found themselves in this profession by accident and compromised it are yet to understand this", said Mesic, adding the word can be a powerful weapon and that it depends on us how it will be used. The Croatian society is undergoing some sort of catharsis and the regularities of the profession and ethics should be reinstituted in journalism, said the President, adding that ownership relations in the media, circulation, or ratings must not overcome that. He wished the media representatives and journalists higher circulation and ratings this year, a fair and professional approach to the job, objective reporting and refraining from being in the service of any and anyone's policy. The president of the Croatian Journalists' Association, Dragutin Lucic, pointed to the diversity of interests in Croatian journalism. Professional ethics are the wound of all wounds of Croatian journalism, which too often has served someone's interests, Lucic said. There have been many instances of public manipulation, conclusions reached without valid evidence and arguments, and scandals increasing circulation, he added. (hina) np/ha sb