10. 03. 2015

Authorities urged to take serious steps to protect reporters

10.3.2015. (Tanjug, B92) - BELGRADE -- NUNS has called on the authorities on Monday to take serious steps to ensure that reporters could do their job without pressure and threats.

The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) thus reacted to he postponement of the investigative series Reporter on TV B92.

It is another sad indicator of how much reporter freedoms were at threat and what the situation on the Serbian media scene was, the statement said.

NUNS added that a campaign against Brankica Stankovic, the author of the show (which investigated corruption in football clubs) had been going on for days, and that officials of sport clubs, as well as people from sport fan organizations, were threatening reporters openly.

"The government has not reacted to this threat to media freedom and personal safety with appropriate measures, neither have officials shown in any way that they are disturbed because of the threats coming to sport club managements and fan groups," the statement says.

NUNS pointed out that, unfortunately, some media were also taking part in the orchestrated attacks and condemned such behavior, calling on all fellow journalists to show solidarity, since it would be needed to achieve better conditions for journalistic work.

"Stronger support from the public is also necessary in that import work" the statement says.

TV B92 announced on Monday that they had agreed with Insajder desk editor Stankovic to postpone the next episode of Reporter.

"The safety of our reporters is the most important thing for TV B92 and at this moment the only rational solution is to postpone the show and protect the journalists of the Insajder desk at least in some way," a statement said.

TV B92 pointed out that Stankovic has been guarded by the police for years now, and that mocking the whole situation she is in has threatened her safety even more, along with the safety of her team.