veličina fonta

verzija za štampu

copyright

pošalji komentar

Meeting in Doboj

15 February 2008  The Balkans Investigative Reporting Network and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung have launched a new initiative to bring journalists and BiH judicial institutions together in a series of meetings.

The first two meetings, in a series on "Transparency of District and Cantonal Courts and Prosecutions", were held in Doboj on February 7.


Journalists and also judges, prosecutors, attorneys and lawyers had a chance to discuss, at separate meetings, the reporting of court processes.


Seven days later, on February 13, a joint meeting was held, enabling all parties to present their views and try to reach solutions which will be helpful to all in their future work.


The media representatives stressed the need for the judicial institutions and the media to respect the European Convention on Human Rights, the Press Code and the Electronic Media Code. It was also reiterated that the journalists should follow ethical and professional standards in their work, but it was also said that the work of the courts and prosecutors' offices was not sufficiently transparent.


Consequently, the journalists asked to be given access to audio and photo material related to trials in order to be able to provide timely and accurate information to the public. They also stressed the need for regular updating of web pages of courts and prosecutors' offices.


It was also pointed out that the journalists should be educated in order to improve the reporting on court processes, but it was also said that the courts and prosecutors' offices should appoint PR persons, who could be easily contacted by the media. The need for raising judicial staff's awareness on the importance of the public was also recognised.


Representatives of judiciary concluded that it was necessary to educate journalists on court reporting, but they also pointed to the problem of "interference of media in the investigation phase" and said that it was necessary to prevent the media conducting "trials before trials".


They also agreed that the journalists should follow the existing codes, that the Courts should become more open towards the public, and that its staff should be educated in PR relations. The judiciary representatives also said that the media and other parties involved in information sharing process are not responsible enough, and that there should be an education process to ensure that everyone understands the function, rights and responsibilities of the media.


The participants agreed that the joint meeting, held seven days later, was very productive. As a result of the first meeting, the Prosecutor's Office in Doboj gave assurances that it would update its web page and include all relevant pieces of information.


The conclusions of the joint meeting are as follows:


1. It is recommended that judicial institutions approach, through their associations, the higher instance bodies (ministries), in order to be able to perform their work in a better and more transparent way, and this could be achieved by employing of public relations persons.


2. Initiate the change of the existing regulations on media relations and sharing of information with the public, with the aim of informing the public in a timely manner.


3. Media reporting from courts must avoid sensationalism and so-called "trials before trials", such as the writing of newspaper articles which could prejudice the public prior to trials, thus creating distrust in judicial organs.


4. Journalists need to be educated in order to get acquainted with the trial process and the terminology used at trials.


5. The media must know which files and documents are public and they must have access to those documents.


6. Judges and journalists must not comment on the verdicts.


7. When reporting from courts, any reference to politics must be avoided.


Following the meetings in Doboj, new meetings shall be organized in Trebinje, Travnik and Brcko.


In addition to BIRN and Konrad Adenauer Foundation, each meeting is attended by members of the Association of Court Reporters (AIS), which was established in 2005 with the aim of informing the public on the work of the Court of BiH and its Prosecution. Through this initiative, AIS is expanding its activities to also cover the local judiciary, with the aim of including as many journalists as possible in its network of members.


For any additional information please write to urednik@birn.eu.com