20. 03. 2015

TV host leaves station, and journalism, citing "boycott"

20.3.2015. (Tanjug, N1, B92) - BELGRADE -- Danica Vucenic has decided to quit journalism because government officials have been "boycotting her show.

"The host of a political talk show broadcast on the Radio and Television of Vojvodina (RTV), the provincial public broadcaster, said this meant she was "unable to pose questions important for the public."

The program, "Jedan na jedan" (One-on-One) aired for the last time on Thursday, Tanjug reported.

According to Vucenic, who spoke for the Belgrade-based daily Danas, since she invited Olja Beckovic as a guests in late September, "government officials have been refusing to come to her show."

"I see that as a boycott," the journalist added.

Beckovic was the author and host of the "Utisak Nedelje" (Impression of the Week) talk show that was until last fall broadcast on B92 TV.

Vucenic, herself a former B92 journalist, said that she has become aware she will not have the opportunity to host anyone from the ruling Serb Progressive Party (SNS), and that this "pushed her into being one-sided."

"I will have no part in that. For that reason, I am leaving," Vucenic said.

Zoran Babic, head of the SNS parliamentary group, told TV Pink on Thursday that his party was not boycotting Vucenic or her program.

The SNS has not boycotted any media or individual, while I hold Vucenic in considerable esteem, Babic stressed.

He noted that last year he was a guest on Vucenic's show three times, and has "fond memories of the verbal fighting" he had with the journalist, while defending his party's positions.

Ministry of Culture and Information State Secretary Sasa Mirkovic also denied that Vucenic's show was boycotted by state officials, and added that since Beckovic was a guest, several SNS and state figures were on the show, including ministers Zlatibor Loncar, Zeljko Sertic, Zorana Mihajlovic, Ivica Dacic, and Tanja Miscevic, and Marko Blagojevic.

"I'm unclear on what kind of boycott this would be," Mirkovic said.