ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's Committee for the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System today forwarded to the parliament the draft law on the Croatian news agency Hina. The draft stipulates that Hina would
be transformed from a state institution to an independent public one. The essential principles of the new law are Hina's independence as a public medium and its financial independence. "Hina acts by the principles of independent, unbiased and professional news agency reporting," Article 5 of the bill says. Contrary to the present direct financing by the government budget, Hina would acquire its earnings based on a subscription agreement not only with public media as has been the case so far, but also with the founder, the state. The bill proposes Hina's internal organisation so it would be run by a management board of five members appointed by the parliament. One elected member would be an em
ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's Committee for
the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System today forwarded to
the parliament the draft law on the Croatian news agency Hina.
The draft stipulates that Hina would be transformed from a state
institution to an independent public one. The essential principles
of the new law are Hina's independence as a public medium and its
financial independence.
"Hina acts by the principles of independent, unbiased and
professional news agency reporting," Article 5 of the bill says.
Contrary to the present direct financing by the government budget,
Hina would acquire its earnings based on a subscription agreement
not only with public media as has been the case so far, but also with
the founder, the state.
The bill proposes Hina's internal organisation so it would be run by
a management board of five members appointed by the parliament.
One elected member would be an employee of Hina, one would be a media
expert elected with a previous recommendation by the Croatian
Journalists' Society. The other three members would be from the
ranks of economic, financial and legal experts.
The management board would not be comprised of any state or party
officials.
The board would, pursuant to public tenders, appoint the agency's
director and editor-in-chief for a mandate of four years.
The parliament committee said that the bill would harmonise the
structure and legal status of Hina with the Constitution, the Law on
Public Communication, and European standards for the media.
The parliament will discuss the bill during the ongoing session,
before the start of the summer session.
(hina) lml sb