ZAGREB, Oct 8 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's Legislation Committee on Monday endorsed a final bill on the Croatian news agency Hina which envisages the agency's transformation from a state-owned into public institution. Explaining
the bill, the chairman of the Committee on the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System, Mato Arlovic, said the bill would enable the agency to operate independently except in a state of emergency, when its journalists' right to strike would be restricted. The bill also envisages a new organisation of the agency, which would be governed by a Steering Council consisting of one Hina employee, and one financial, legal, media and computer expert each. The Steering Council would be appointed by parliament on the basis of public competition. The editor-in-chief would be appointed by the Steering Council upon public competition and at the suggestion of the agency's director and with previo
ZAGREB, Oct 8 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's Legislation
Committee on Monday endorsed a final bill on the Croatian news
agency Hina which envisages the agency's transformation from a
state-owned into public institution.
Explaining the bill, the chairman of the Committee on the
Constitution, Rule Book and Political System, Mato Arlovic, said
the bill would enable the agency to operate independently except in
a state of emergency, when its journalists' right to strike would be
restricted.
The bill also envisages a new organisation of the agency, which
would be governed by a Steering Council consisting of one Hina
employee, and one financial, legal, media and computer expert each.
The Steering Council would be appointed by parliament on the basis
of public competition. The editor-in-chief would be appointed by
the Steering Council upon public competition and at the suggestion
of the agency's director and with previous consent from the agency
journalists.
The bill also defines a new model of agency financing - the agency
will not be financed directly from the state budget but through
contracts with the users of agency services, including the state.
Jadranka Kosor of the Croatian Democratic Union warned the
suggested model of the appointment of the Steering Council could
lead to difficulties similar to those which occurred during the
appointment of the Croatian Radio Television (HRT) Steering
Council.
Kosor believes the bill is not sufficiently clear as regards
regulations for the appointment of the Steering Council and fears
the bill would increase the influence of politics on the agency's
work as the Steering Council is appointed by parliament.
Arlovic countered by saying the bill offered general regulations
for the appointment of the Steering Council as well as a number of
restrictions under which state or party officials could not become
members of the Steering Council. This, he believes, will reduce the
influence of politics on the agency to the minimum possible level.
(hina) rml