ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - An association of Croatia's electronic media journalists, Forum 21, on Monday issued a statement in relation to the recent replacement of the editor of an agricultural television show. "The replacement of Ivo
Loncar, editor of the 'Plodovi zemlje' show, is the latest proof that the ruling party persists in using HTV (Croatian Television) as its own propaganda bulletin," Forum 21 said in the statement. "Loncar has been removed from the screen at the explicit demand of the highest-ranking officials of the ruling party, who publicly said so themselves," the statement said, adding "with the exception of Mirko Galic, the HTV Management has not made any attempt at all to protect its reporter, but showed itself to be the obedient executor of the dictate of politics, rather than the defender of the public." Forum 21 assessed "eliminating Loncar from the show is clear pr
ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - An association of Croatia's electronic
media journalists, Forum 21, on Monday issued a statement in
relation to the recent replacement of the editor of an agricultural
television show.
"The replacement of Ivo Loncar, editor of the 'Plodovi zemlje'
show, is the latest proof that the ruling party persists in using
HTV (Croatian Television) as its own propaganda bulletin," Forum 21
said in the statement.
"Loncar has been removed from the screen at the explicit demand of
the highest-ranking officials of the ruling party, who publicly
said so themselves," the statement said, adding "with the exception
of Mirko Galic, the HTV Management has not made any attempt at all to
protect its reporter, but showed itself to be the obedient executor
of the dictate of politics, rather than the defender of the
public."
Forum 21 assessed "eliminating Loncar from the show is clear proof
of the fate awaiting all HTV reporters who want to do their job by
respecting the rules of profession and by rejecting the orders of
politics."
Forum 21 called on all organisations, associations, and citizens to
"stage a public protest to oppose loyalty to the party regime as the
fundamental principle of HTV functioning."
The statement, signed by Forum 21 president Damir Matkovic, reminds
that Ivo Loncar has been voted 1998's Journalist of the Year by
professional journalists, members of the Croatian Journalists'
Association, for his work in "Plodovi zemlje".
The ruling Croatian Democratic Union's Drago Krpina told the
Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) Council's constituent session on
Monday that some HRT reporters themselves contributed to the
exaggerated politicisation of debates regarding the HRT.
Krpina, a member of the HRT Council, named Ivo Loncar as an example.
He said Loncar "insults, slanders, and calls ignoramuses all who
disagree with him ," and that he "is trying to turn himself into a
victim." Loncar "deliberately distorts the facts," Krpina said.
"Loncar has not been replaced, a new desk for agriculture has been
established, which," Krpina said, should have been done earlier,
and which should have room for Loncar too.
(hina) ha jn