16. 06. 2005

UNPROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM

BELGRADE, June 16, 2005 – The attempt to set up a phony interview with Radovan Karadzic and the B92’s Insider crew is an example of lack of professional ethics in journalism. The unsuccessful attempt of a private production “Mission Impossible”, former television show “Ricochet” of RTV Pink, to lead the crew of Insider program into the candid camera trap, represents the lack of professionalism in journalism, stated representatives of certain leading Belgrade media. “It would be as if a candid camera crew in the USA, for example, offered to make an interview with the States’ enemy number one Osama bin Laden. However, would something like this ever happen in America, like it happened in Serbia? Colleagues from the Belgrade media also speculate whether it was a candid camera or not”, said Veljko Djurovic from TV Sky. “There are things that you simply don’t joke about. It seems like the whole thing was initiated primarily to discredit a rival television”, said Zoran Sekulic, editor of FoNet news agency. Speaking for Radio B92’s Kaziprist, editor-in-chief of Belgrade daily Danas Grujica Spasovic rated the attempt as a professional neglect of people from the “Mission Impossible” production. Spasovic also said the B92’s program Insider contributed greatly in revealing many significant facts, and was not to be involved in project like this. “Radovan Karadzic is a big and serious problem that affects the future of this country, to be part of such experiment. Every attempt to disqualify the crew that makes such a good and important television program is professionally, ethically and, if you like, politically, very disputable”, said Spasovic. NIN journalist Ljiljana Smajlovic told B92 that the reaction of the Insider crew, which had notified the police of the attempt to make an alleged interview with Radiovan Karadzic, was right: “I think that journalist is obliged to alarm the police after the accomplished job. I also believe that journalist must not obstruct the police investigation. But, on the other hand, in situation like this, if I have ever suspected in the authenticity of the source and that something else than just informing the public was behind all that, I would notify the police”. The crew of the television program “Ricochet” tried to lead the crew of Insider into believing that Karadzic wanted to give them an exclusive interview. The crew was supposed to be taken to the cave where Karadzic was allegedly hiding, that is, a person resembling to him. However, the intention of the “Ricochet” crew was discovered before journalist headed to Kucevo, the alleged meeting point. RTV Pink news editor Tanja Jordovic told FoNet agency that the program “Mission Impossible” of the “Ricochet” production was not to be associated with TV Pink, nor that the management of this station was aware of the theme of this candid camera. Jordovic reminded that the ‘victims’ of previous candid camera programs were also other journalists, from other newsrooms. “I agree with the fact that the chosen topic for this candid camera was very bad, but I would also be tempted to find out what was really going on. Of course something like that should be immediately reported to the police. Finally, it is your civil duty”, said Jordovic. ANEM against dishonorable reporting The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) protested at the way in which some media have covered the unsuccessful attempt by the Mission Impossible production company to entrap a crew from the Television B92 investigative program Insider in a candid camera hoax. The real issue raised by this incident is not whether B92 was duped into believing that Hague Tribunal fugitive Radovan Karadzic wanted to give Insider an interview but whether journalists chasing sensational news are justified in turning a blind eye not only to the ethics of their profession but also to their legal obligations. ANEM supports the decision of the Insider crew and RTV B92 to report to the police the offer they received to interview Radovan Karadzic and believes this sets an example to other media and other journalists. The task of the journalist is to present information which the public has an interest in knowing and not to serve as a mouthpiece for those who for the last decade have avoided telling their story before the courts which are trying these gravest of crimes. ANEM also welcomes the response of the Interior Ministry, which it sees as appropriate given that the supposed tip given to Insider could have led to the capture of the Hague Tribunal’s most wanted fugitive. The serious times in which investigative journalists live and work in Serbia today calls for a high level of professionalism and responsibility by everyone involved. The tragic events of this country’s recent past have had a far-reaching effect both on journalists and the society. Toying with these events can only be aimed at downplaying the seriousness of these crimes and the responsibility of those involved. This in turn makes light of the suffering of thousands of people and turns journalism into a dishonorable and trivial profession.