Politics often involved in functioning of public RTV systems

15.05.2008 (13:53)

SARAJEVO, May 15 (FENA) - A new book entitled "Divided They Fall - Public Service Broadcasting in Multiethnic States", was presented in Sarajevo on Thursday. The book by Sandra Basic - Hrvatin, Marko Thompson and Tarik Jusic is an analysis of the situation at public RTV services in four countries: BiH, Macedonia, Switzerland and Belgium. Selection of the countries was conditioned by the fact that all the four states have been determined as multiethnic by constitutions and public system of radio and television has been recognized in all the four countries but regulated differently.

"The idea was to observe the situation with public RTV services in four different countries and to see the extent in which the public service's principles were implemented there", Basic - Hrvatin said. She emphasized that the RTV systems in Belgium and Switzerland are well-organized and in service of the citizens. All the problems have been noticed in BiH and in Macedonia.

"Situation in BiH is specific because political model of division of authority was replicated to the sector of communications. BiH legislature is well organized but not implemented in practice", the author explained. Participants of the session agreed that the public service needs to function for the benefitof all the citizens. Journalists are especially responsible because they should not, in any case, represent the interests of certain groups or fractions.

"BiH is not an exception when it comes to political pressure against the public services. That is only more obvious in BiH because laws are not implemented", Thompson said. Mehmed Agovic, BHRT Director General, started that the public service is one of the factors of democratic processes and that it is necessary as such. "Without a professional public service, identity of a democratic society is threatened", Agovic said.