10. 06. 2005

SECOND EPISODE OF ANEM SERIES ON RTV KRAGUJEVAC

KRAGUJEVAC, June 10, 2005 – Radio Television Kragujevac had broadcast second episode of ANEM’s documentary series “Why people whisper in church” without negative reaction of the viewers. Second episode of the television series was broadcast after the apology of the deputy mayor of Kragujevac Sasa Milenic to Archbishop Jovan of Sumadija for the broadcast of the first episode of the series. RTV Kragujevac, ANEM and professional associations protested strongly at such reaction of the local authorities, noting that it was a direct threat and pressure on media and freedom to talk about the problems in the society. In his apology, the deputy mayor said that "this irresponsible and probably politically influenced episode has severely offended the religious feelings of the followers of the Serbian Orthodox Church”. In RTV Kragujevac, however, stated that the broadcast of the first two episodes of the television series “Why people whisper in church” in production of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) had not provoked any negative reaction of the viewers. RTV Kragujevac director Slavica Trifunovic noted that the apology of Sasa Milenic was “the most strenuous interference in the editorial policy of the station and most serious form of pressure on RTK”.