10/10/2016: ALBANIA – SEEMO CALLS FOR FREEDOM OF MEDIA AND SPEECH IN ALBANIA

Vienna, 10/10/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was surprised to learn about the cancellation of an investigative TV show in Albania, after only three episodes on air.

The investigative TV show Publicus ended on Sunday, 9 October after airing only three episodes on Vision Plus TV. The show had previously focused on investigative stories exposing political and governmental issues in Albania, among which was the issue of monitoring waste imports into the country.

The cancellation of Publicus occurred just before another episode was due, which allegedly dealt with the investigation against a high level politician. The opposition Democratic Party claims Publicus was silenced under political pressure. As journalist Artan Rama said to BIRN ” we were notified that the show wasn’t going to air, with no explanation given”

“An abrupt cancellation of an investigative show is disturbing” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said. “The editors have of course the right to decide about program changes, but the public should be informed what the reasons behind the shutdown of Publicus are” Vujovic added. According to information before SEEMO, only two months ago, in August, the editor-in-chief of A1 News TV, Alida Tota, was dismissed, after trying to air a report.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 03/10/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after a caricaturist for the Serbian daily Politika was dismissed for what are indicated to be political motives.

Caricaturist Dusan Petricic was dismissed from the daily after having his work published in the paper for more than 7 years. Petricic revealed that the recently appointed general director of Politika invited him for a talk and suggested, in sparse language, that the caricaturist should feature Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic as a topic less often. A month later, Petricic was summoned by the general director again only to be notified that since “nothing changed” in the theme of his caricatures, Politika was ending their contract with him.

“Caricatures are critical voices we need in media”, Oliver Vujovic stated today. ” We call on the managerial board of Politika to transparently reveal their arguments for this dismissal, and revoke the decision immediately” Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 30/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned today new steps against media in Turkey.

In the aftermath of the failed military coup on 15 July in Turkey, authorities in the country have been employing the Cabinet Decree 668, which allows them to close any media outlet and confiscate any materials they find to be threatening on the grounds of “national security”.

As result in the past several days at least 20 television and radio stations were closed. In Istanbul Denge TV, IMC TV, Govend TV, Azadi TV, Van TV, Hayatın Sesi, Jiyan TV, and Zarok TV are no longer aired. Also TV 10, voice of the Turkish Alevi community was closed. This TV channels were also removed from the national satellite platform TÜRKSAT without any explanation The Istanbul based Yön Radio, Adana based Radio Dünya and Mersin based SES Radio are not more operating. Some days ago also radio and TV channels in the Uşak area, ART TV, ART Radio, and Radio Klas, were closed.

According to the Journalists Association of Turkey since 15 July 660 official press cards have been cancelled by the authorities, over 100 journalists have been jailed and around 2500 lost their jobs.

“We find that this administrative decision affects the media atmosphere in Turkey severely, and call on authorities to revoke the order immediately” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 29/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed its approval after learning that an individual who made threats against a journalist was promptly taken into custody.

Croatian journalist Ema Branica recently released a story about a person that was allegedly involved in financial and legal frauds, which was then aired in the Nova TV “Provjereno” show. After this, the individual in question was displeased with their portrayal in the story and started threatening the journalist by saying she will be slapped and spit on, and sending a message to Branica which concluded with the threat that she would “end up like Pukanic”. Ivo Pukanic was a journalist and editor in chief who died by a car bomb several years ago. Following this story, the perpetrator was arrested in Zagreb.

“We appreciate the fast response conducted by Croatian police authorities, and would like to showcase this as a positive example when it comes to reactions to threats against journalists” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today. “Having state authorities react timely to this type of endangerment is an example of how all cases should be conducted- without delay and with proper penalization of the culprit” Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 28/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was concerned after learning that Sinisa Kovacic, general manager of the Croatian public broadcaster HRT, made public his proposals of dismissing two employees.

HRT journalist Sanja Mikleusevic Pavic was accused by Kovacic of “verbal offences” after co-signing a press release of the Croatian Journalist Association on 21 September. Kovacic stated that by doing so, the journalist violated several codes of the HRT Ethical Codex. However, sources say this was in fact a reaction to the press release, parts of which challenge the possibility of a prolonged term for Kovacic as general director. Despite the Ethical Council of HRT disagreeing with this, Kovacic punished the journalist with a pre-dismissal note.

Kovacic also began a procedure for the dismissal of Mirna Zidaric, president of the HRT Ethical Council.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 20/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned a threat made against Dina Kleanthous, journalist and crime correspondent of the online news portal Reporter Online in Cyprus.

Around 2:30 in the morning on Monday, 19 September, Kleanthous’ car was set on fire by unknown perpetrators in the city of Nicosia. The vehicle was parked outside the journalist’s house at the time of the torching, and the material damage is said to be extensive.

The correspondent stated that she believes the reasons behind this attack were almost certainly related to her professional activities and statements.

“Authorities in Cyprus must promptly react to this extremely dangerous attack on the well-being and human rights of Dina Kleanthous. Not only does this act send a message that the journalist is not protected adequately, it is also a brutal reminder that hidden criminal structures often try to silence critical voices in aggressive ways” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated today.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 19/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) once again criticized threats against media workers in Serbia.

SEEMO has previously condemned the threats made against Nedim Sejdinovic, President of Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists (NDNV), after he participated at a round table on 11 September. Sejdinovic made political comments which were then shared by media outlets, and for which he faced threats and hate speech from multiple sources. The attacks have not subsided, and Sejdinovic was recently the recipient of an anonymous letter calling for his resignation and threatening that if he does not comply, both him and his colleague Dinko Gruhonjic, NDNV Program Director will be found “floating in the Danube”.

“The growing severity of these threats has concerned us very much” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today. “We ask the institutions in Serbia to abandon their lax, tolerant attitude towards death threats and possible attacks on journalists, and finally react in a professional and equipped manner. Threats against Sejdinovic and Gruhonjic is deplorable, and needs to be sanctioned immediately” Vujovic then added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.