ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - An interim board of directors should be introduced at Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) before a new Law on HRT is passed, to carry out a thorough revision and begin HRT's transformation into a public institution,
an electronic media official said on Tuesday. The HRT board of directors so far engaged for the benefit of one political party, and since that party lost recent parliamentary elections, the former board must be replaced, said Damir Matkovic, chairman of Forum 21, an association of independent electronic media journalists. The new board should be appointed by parliament for a period of six months, during which time preliminary work on a new HRT law and personnel and programme changes have to be carried out, Matkovic said. He is of the opinion the new HRT law should be harmonised with European standards, while also taking into consideration long-term national inte
ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - An interim board of directors should be
introduced at Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) before a new Law on
HRT is passed, to carry out a thorough revision and begin HRT's
transformation into a public institution, an electronic media
official said on Tuesday.
The HRT board of directors so far engaged for the benefit of one
political party, and since that party lost recent parliamentary
elections, the former board must be replaced, said Damir Matkovic,
chairman of Forum 21, an association of independent electronic
media journalists.
The new board should be appointed by parliament for a period of six
months, during which time preliminary work on a new HRT law and
personnel and programme changes have to be carried out, Matkovic
said.
He is of the opinion the new HRT law should be harmonised with
European standards, while also taking into consideration long-term
national interests.
According to Forum 21, HRT's programme should be reduced from the
current three to two national television channels, of which one
would be the network of regional studios.
The third channel's frequencies should be offered in a public bid,
Matkovic said, pointing out a decision on the matter should be made
by a government commission and not the Council for Radio and
Television.
The HRT Council should become the principal supervisory body of
public broadcasting, the body which will prevent direct government
and political party interference in the editorial policy of public
television, said Matkovic.
Based on a public bid, the HRT Council would also appoint HRT's
director and editors-in-chief, and could also initiate proceedings
for their relieving.
Matkovic said Forum 21 expected the new House of Representatives
and government to recall the Council for Radio and Television due
to, he said, its systematic activity as an outlet for the formerly
ruling party.
Forum 21 also calls for an investigation into all previously
granted concessions for radio and television broadcasting.
The Council for Radio and Television issued a statement later
today, pointing out the only criterion they applied in allocating
broadcasting concessions was expertise. They categorically
rejected all ill-intentioned remarks, particularly the
possibility of political manipulation.
(hina) ha